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Background Osteopathy is a recent addition to the modern day healthcare community. The majority of patients attending osteopathic practices in the United Kingdom are self funders, and studies have reported a high rate of satisfaction in patients receiving osteopathic treatment. Objective This study aimed to determine patient perception of osteopathic education and relate that to patient reported experience. Method The study was conducted through newspapers, GP surgeries and osteopathic clinics. A questionnaire was either completed on-line or a paper copy was returned to the investigator. Results Over seven hundred people respondent though for this part of the study 202 were excluded either because they reported both good and bad experiences or did not complete the section on osteopathic education. Similar to other studies this current study reported that the majority of respondents reported a good experience (88.7%). However, there was no statistical significance demonstrated for any of the patient demographics or for the respondents perception of osteopathic education and experience. Discussion and conclusion Further work is required to assess what patients require for a ‘good' experience and what osteopathic patients determine as key competencies required in an osteopath.

Summary: This study investigated the influence of visceral osteopathic technique (VOT) on the behaviour and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of children with autism using a validated questionnaire to measure outcome. Methods: The 49 recruited autistic children suffered GI symptoms and impaired social interaction and communication, but were otherwise healthy. Thirty minute VOT sessions were applied to the abdomens of the children over a 6 week period whilst their GI and behavioural parameters were recorded. Outcomes were measured using a modified Autism Research Institute Secretin Outcomes Survey Form, the ‘S.O.S Form’. Four questionnaires were completed by parents before treatment (control period), four completed during treatment (treatment period) and one completed six weeks after the last treatment (post treatment period). Subjects acted as their own controls. Results: Results from repeat ANOVA demonstrated a positive, overall significant, symptomatic improvement (p < 0.05) in ‘social behaviour and communication’ and ‘digestive signs’ subscales of the questionnaire comparing before and after VOT. Significant improvement in vomiting (p = 0.00029), poor appetite (p = 0.039) and eye contact (p = 0.035) was also demonstrated after VOT application. Discussion and conclusion: The experimental hypothesis has been supported indicating a positive effect of VOT on some of the measured GI symptoms and behavioural patterns in this group of children with autism. This data indicates that the application of VOT may be of benefit to children with autism and GI disturbance.

The purpose of this study was to determine calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of marathon race participants and compare this information with previously obtained normative data. BUA was assessed using the McCue CUBA clinical device in 217 male and 184 female runners, aged 20-93 yr, participating in the 2004 Flora London Marathon. The normative data included 267 men and 334 women, aged 20-80 yr. A significantly higher mean BUA (p0.001) was observed for all the men (91.2 dB/MHz, standard deviation [SD] 18.2 dB/MHz) in the study compared to the women (81.6 dB/MHz, SD 17.0 dB/MHz) and for the marathon runners compared to the nonrunners (p0.001) among men (97.2dB/MHz, SD 17.6 dB/MHz and 87.7 dB/MHz, SD 17.6 dB/MHz, respectively) and women (89.2dB/MHz, SD 14.2dB/MHz and 77.4dB/MHz, SD 17.0 dB/MHz, respectively). A significant decline in BUA with age was observed in all males and females, with the males starting from a higher baseline and with the rate of decline significantly ameliorated by marathon training (from -0.35 to -0.25 dB/MHz per year in men and -0.51 to -0.15 dB/MHz per year in women). This study provides observational evidence in support of the potential benefits of weight-bearing exercise, such as marathon training and running, on BUA of the calcaneus, an index of bone mineral density.

Introduction As scientific research into the use of hydrotherapy is scarce and often vague in its recommendation for practical use, this study was designed to test and compare the effects on upper limb blood flow of differing time lengths of short cold hydrotherapy application, with a view to improving the current short duration hydrotherapy application guidelines used in the British College of Osteopathic Medicine clinic. It was proposed that the different time lengths of hydrotherapy application would have a significantly different influence on both ipsilateral and contralateral blood perfusion and skin temperature. Design Crossover design, intervention study. Methods Intervention: Short duration application of cold hydrotherapy of duration 30s, 1min, 2min, 3min and 5min using cold wraps at 12°C to the dominant forearm. Participants: Thirty-five asymptomatic, right-hand dominant male subjects. Outcome Measures: Blood flow and skin temperature measured by the Microflo DSP Digital Laser Perfusion Monitor. Results All short duration time lengths of application of cold hydrotherapy had a significant effect on blood perfusion both in the arm to which the hydrotherapy was applied and to the contralateral arm. There was a significant difference in the skin temperature of the arm to which the hydrotherapy was applied but not to the contralateral arm. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in blood perfusion between the differing time lengths of application. Conclusions It was concluded therefore that short duration applications of hydrotherapy do have a significant effect on blood perfusion in both the limb to which they are applied and to the contralateral limb. It was also concluded that there was no significant difference between the different time lengths of application thus a 1-min application of cold hydrotherapy overall had a similar effect on blood flow as a 5-min application.