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Exploring How Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment May Affect Spinal Fluid Flow: An MRI Study
Sponsor: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Summary
his study aims to investigate whether Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) affects cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and glymphatic clearance in the human brain. CSF plays an important role in brain health by supporting nutrient delivery, waste removal, and pressure regulation. Aging and certain neurological conditions are associated with reduced CSF circulation and impaired brain waste clearance. Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans before and after a 30-minute OMT session to evaluate changes in CSF flow dynamics and brain physiology. The study will also examine whether age, cognition, sleep quality, physical function, anxiety, and depression are associated with changes in CSF flow following OMT. The study will enroll healthy adults between 18 and 80 years of age. Data collected from MRI imaging and questionnaires may help improve understanding of the physiological effects of OMT and its potential role in supporting brain health
Official title: Exploring the Impact of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on CSF Dynamics: A Mechanistic MRI-Based Investigation
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2026-06
Completion Date
2027-08
Last Updated
2026-06-05
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
This intervention consists of a single 30-minute osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) session administered by a licensed osteopathic physician trained in neuromusculoskeletal and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Treatment will be individualized based on findings from an osteopathic structural examination assessing somatic dysfunctions involving the head, spine, pelvis, extremities, and myofascial structures. Standardized OMT techniques may include osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine (OCMM), indirect method (IM), articulatory technique (ART), muscle energy technique (MET), facilitated positional release (FPR), tender point high-velocity low-amplitude (TP-HVLA), and myofascial release (MFR). The intervention is performed between pre- and post-treatment MRI sessions to evaluate acute changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and glymphatic-related imaging biomarkers.
Locations (1)
Auburn University MRI Research Center
Auburn, Alabama, United States