To the Editor: As an osteopathic family physician
who incorporates osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) into my daily practice,
I was concerned by the design and conclusions of the article by Drs Bove and
Nilsson.1 The article should lead one to
conclude only that the particular method of manipulation used was not helpful.
Before dismissing the role of manipulation from the therapeutic armamentarium
for headaches, it is important to look more closely at other relevant factors.
First, OMT is consistently more comprehensive than the treatment described
in this study (techniques were confined to the cervical spine and musculature
surrounding the cervical and upper thoracic spine). Holistic therapy mandates
that one treats the whole body, not just the affected part. By so doing, OMT
is often successful in reducing symptoms, improving outcomes, decreasing direct
and indirect costs (such as physician office visits), as well as decreasing
the frequency of treatments.2