Advanced search


Search results        Search results      Copy URL to E-Mail


Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) Protocol on Sleep Quality in Medical Students as Measured by the Fitbit Smart Watch: A Pilot Study

Journal: The AAO Journal Date: 2025/09, 35(3):Pages: 9. doi: Subito , type of study: pretest posttest design

Full text    (https://aaoj.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/aaoj/35/3/article-p6.xmlv)

Keywords:

medical students [644]
OMT [3746]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3766]
osteopathic medicine [2016]
pilot study [193]
pretest posttest design [214]
sleep [66]

Abstract:

Introduction: Medical students experience poor sleep due to demanding schedules and high stress levels. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may improve sleep disorders non-pharmacologically by addressing autonomic, lymphatic, and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. This pilot study (IRB-2025-193) evaluates OMT in improving sleep quality, measured by Fitbit watches. We hypothesize that an OMT protocol, addressing aforementioned areas of restriction, will be feasible and effective in improving sleep parameters in medical students. Methods: Medical students (n=10) without diagnosed sleep disorders or on sleep interfering medications wore Fitbit watches for 8 nights, with baseline and post-treatment data collected for 4 nights each. Subjects received an OMT protocol (suboccipital decompression, base spread, occipitoatlantal decompression, venous sinus drainage, compression of the fourth ventricle, cervical myofascial, thoracic inlet release, bilateral rib raising, diaphragm doming, and pedal pump) provided by a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine board-certified attending. Sham was omitted due to the pilot study design. Feasibility was evaluated by protocol adherence and data quality. Pre- to post-treatment sleep parameters were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Fitbits collected sleep data with minor lapses. Pre to post-treatment changes were significant for increases in total time asleep (12%, p=0.003), and for time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages: N1 (23%, p=0.002), N2 (13%, p=0.018), N3 (12%, p=0.017), but not for REM sleep (10%). Conclusions: The OMT protocol was delivered as intended with no adverse events and demonstrated a trend toward benefit in sleep quality through improved sleep parameters in a population known for poor sleep. Limitations include small sample size, short calibration period, and single treatment session. This pilot OMT protocol can further study sleep quality and its impact.


Search results      Copy URL to E-Mail

 
 
 






  • ImpressumLegal noticeDatenschutz


ostlib.de/data_jvnksyewhxapbgzdqcmt



Supported by

OSTLIB recommends