TITLE:
Osteopathic manipulative treatment and nutrition: An alternative approach to the irritable bowel syndrome
AUTHORS:
Luca Collebrusco, Rita Lombardini
KEYWORDS:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Chronic Visceral Pain; Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment; Nutrition
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.6B,
June
27,
2013
ABSTRACT:
A simple treatment plan for manual
therapists is presented based on current evidence-based literature, it is
designed to lessen chronic pain and inflammation in the Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS). A chronic continuous or intermittent gastrointestinal tract
dysfunction, IBS appears due to dysregulation of brain-gut-microbe communication. An overview of its management using Osteopathic Manipulative
Treatment (OMT) is described. In IBS OMT focuses on the nervous and circulatory
systems, spine, viscera, thoracic and pelvic diaphragms in order to restore homeostatic balance, normalize autonomic activity in the intestine, promote
lymphatic flow and address somatic dysfunction. Lymphatic and venous
congestion is treated by the Lymphatic Pump Techniques and stimulation of
Chapman’s Reflex Points. The food itself, food allergies and intolerance could
contribute to symptom onset or even cause IBS. Furthermore the “microbiota”
greatly impacts on the bi-directional brain-gut axis communication. This paper
also provides appropriate dietary modifications for patients with IBS.