Osteopathic manipulative treatment and nutrition: An alternative approach to the irritable bowel syndrome

Luca Collebrusco,Rita Lombardini

doi:10.4236/health.2013.56a2013

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.

Highlights

The present paper defines a simple treatment plan for manual therapists, which is designed to reduce chronic pain and inflammation in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
We provide an overview of its management using Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), dietary modification and nutritional supplementation, according to the current evidence-based literature
Fatty food should be avoided since lipids strongly stimulate motor and sensory responses which are often increased in IBS patients [40]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The present paper defines a simple treatment plan for manual therapists, which is designed to reduce chronic pain and inflammation in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is associated with structural changes in grey matter density involving key areas in attention, emotion regulation, pain inhibition and visceral information processing [8]. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8,. OMT consists of a range of direct, indirect, combined, fluid and reflex-based manual techniques (Figure 3) that are applied to a joint or non- to a body area [19]. In IBS, lymphatic and venous congestion should be treated by the lymphatic pump techniques (Figure 5) and stimulation of chapman’s reflex points (Figure 6) They increase lymph flow and improve blood circulation facilitating healing and enhancing the efficacy of any medication [28,29].

NUTRITION

DISCUSSION

Findings

CONCLUSION