Changes in Electromagnetic Activity Following Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: A Novel Assessment Using Induction Sensors

Background Electromagnetic induction sensors have been utilized to measure neuronal signaling using a novel Mu-metal shielded helmet constructed with electromagnetic field (EMF) channels in animal studies as well as in patient populations. These sensors have discerned healthy controls from patients with neural pathologies. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in the form of suboccipital tension release is thought to modulate neuronal function and cortical pathways. This study aimed to evaluate whether these EMF changes could be identified post-treatment. Methods A pilot study was conducted with 35 subjects who had EMF measurements obtained prior to and after OMT treatment with compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4). EMF measurements were obtained using induction sensors and a shielded helmet and then transformed using a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. The transformed data were subsequently post-processed to evaluate changes in neural firing patterns. Results A total of 35 patients consented to this study and underwent CV4 after baseline assessment of EMF signals. Post-OMT measurements were obtained immediately after treatment. It was observed that there was increased synchronicity in the brain waves after treatment, as evidenced by more pronounced peaks and valleys and waves being closer together in amplitude. Additionally, a transition from negative to positive waveforms can be observed at lower frequencies following effective treatment, accompanied by positive waves in the mid frequencies. Conclusion Novel induction sensors appeared efficacious in evaluating neural circuitry related to OMT-related changes post-treatment. OMT appeared to induce changes in slope variability, which may be linked to increased synchronicity of the brain waves, in addition to causing a reversal of negative valleys to peaks. These overall effects will need to be evaluated and confirmed in future studies.