The effects of osteopathic treatment on chronic venous disorders of the leg
Item
- Title
- The effects of osteopathic treatment on chronic venous disorders of the leg
- Author(s)
- Black Peter
- Abstract
-
Abstract
Chronic venous disorders of the leg are a common complaint in this country affecting approximately 8% of the population. The prevalence increases with age and in the over 50 age group it affects more than double this proportion. The characteristics of the condition include varicose veins, oedema, leg pain and it may lead to chronic venous leg ulcers, which can take months or years to heal. A considerable proportion of patients seeking osteopathic treatment are likely to show evidence of venous disorders of the leg. However a review of the literature showed no published studies of the effect of osteopathic physical treatment on the condition. There have been several studies which have demonstrated the efficacy of nutritional and exercise interventions.
A four week conservative osteopathic treatment protocol was applied to eleven subjects with evidence of chronic venous disorders of the leg. They were assessed before and after treatment, by light reflective rheography, using the AV-1000 device to determine the venous refill time in both legs. In addition to this they completed the VEINES-QOL/SYM questionnaire to measure the severity of their symptoms and to determine the impact the condition had on their quality of life.
The treatment protocol consisted of four 30 minute physical osteopathic treatments, no nutritional, hydrotherapy or exercise interventions were made for the duration of the study. The post-treatment measurements were made four weeks after the final treatment. The patients acted as their own controls.
The results showed that there was a significant improvement in the venous refill time of the subjects' legs, (p<0.05). There was also a significant reported improvement in the severity of the overall symptoms, (p<0.01) and the quality of life, (p<0.01) of the subjects. In particular there was significant reported improvement in aching legs and heat or burning sensation, (p<0.05). There was little correlation between the objective and subjective results, (r<0.1).
Although the study population was small, and suffered other limitations which are discussed, the significant nature of the results suggests that further investigation of osteopathic treatment in this area is warranted. - presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 0
- Date Submitted
- 1.1.1970 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13621
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Black Peter, “The effects of osteopathic treatment on chronic venous disorders of the leg”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/1136