Assessing the Efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) in Managing Chronic Back Pain: A Narrative Review

Background: Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) has attracted attention as a management modality for chronic low back pain (CLBP), a very common and costly problem in primary care. This narrative review intends to evaluate the efficacy of OMT in real-life situations beyond the confines of a predetermined study protocol. Methodology: The search started with a review of the current literature through published articles on the following search engines: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. It used combinations of different keywords in various forms, including osteopathic manipulative therapy/treatment, low back pain, and chronic back pain. Discussion: Several studies point that OMT successfully helps in alleviating pain and increases function in CLBP patients. Overall, patient satisfaction with OMT is quite high. However, challenges arise from the inconsistencies in its usage among osteopathic physicians. Extensive research indicates that OMT may lead to outcomes such as decreased pain intensity, reduced disability, and lower medication usage. However, further studies are required to assess the usefulness of osteopathic techniques in CLBP treatment. Recent trends on OMT suggest that it is useful in the management of CLBP. Conclusion: Although research supports OMT’s acceptance, barriers remain to its complete integration into the medical field. Additional studies should address the existing evidence lacunae concerning other conditions related to chronic pain management. While it is easier said than done, finally incorporating OMT into real practice will bring all the benefits it is capable of through more effective treatment of the patients.