Chronic pain outcomes among patients treated by osteopathic vs. allopathic physicians: a 36-month follow-up study

This study found that patients with CLBP treated by osteopathic physicians reported better outcomes for pain, function, and HRQOL than patients treated by allopathic physicians over 36 months of follow-up. These effects of osteopathic medical care were most consistently and strongly mediated by physician empathy and, to a lesser extent, by OMT. Osteopathic medical care was not associated with decreased CWP occurrence or increased CLBP recovery.