Osteopathic Treatment for Headache and Neck Pain

This study is looking at how Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) affects people with neck pain and headaches. OMT is a hands-on approach that involves gentle techniques to help your body heal. Researchers want to see if OMT can improve muscle stiffness, jaw movement, and other functions in the head, neck, and jaw area. You might be able to join if you are between 19 and 65 years old and have had neck pain or headaches for over a month. However, you cannot participate if you've had certain surgeries or have specific medical conditions like jaw disease or connective tissue disorders. The study will measure success by looking at changes in muscle stiffness, eye tracking, and jaw movement after 4-6 weeks. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 30 participants. It is not specified if the study is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will receive Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. They will also have photos taken, ultrasounds, eye tracking tests, motion capture, autonomic tests, algometry (pain threshold measurement), and complete surveys.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements will be taken at 4-6 weeks after the intervention.

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NCT06471426

The Effect of Osteopathic Treatment on Craniocervico-Mandibular Dysfunction

Recruiting
NAAges 19–65InterventionalTreatment
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
~30 participants
Updated 2026-05-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Muscle Stiffness
Measured over 4-6 weeks
+6 more outcomes measured
Headache
Neck Pain
1 sites across 1 states
Alabama1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

male and female subjects 19-65 years old
neck pain and/or headaches of \> 1 month duration

Exclusion

prior cervical or thoracic spinal surgery
diagnosis cervical radiculopathy or pinched nerve in the neck
diagnosis of jaw disease or dysfunction
diagnosis of connective tissue or muscle disorders
diagnosis of cancer
previous spinal cord injury
Inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia
eye movement disorder
known pregnancy (hormonal changes affecting tissues could be a confounding variable)
tobacco use
known diabetes or prediabetes
allergy to ultrasound gel (propylene glycol)
history of manual therapy treatment within the past 2 weeks
history of injection for pain within the past month
currently taking muscle relaxers
  • Muscle Stiffness4-6 weeks

    Using Shear Wave Elastography to measure stiffness (kPa) changes in the masseter, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and semispinalis capitis and cervicis

  • Eye tracking changes measured by a smooth pursuit neck torsion test (SPNT)4-6 weeks

    Ratio of (eye velocity) to (on-screen moving red dot velocity) in degrees/second. This measurement will be taken in 3 different positions, neutral, 45ᵒ of left head rotation, and 45ᵒ of right head rotation.

  • Changes in jaw morphometrics during motion using a 9 -marker setup and capturing motion using VICON motion capture system4-6 weeks

    Measurement of jaw morphometry during the following motions: depression, elevation, right and left lateral excursion, and protrusion. Investigators will measure motion morphometrics of cervical rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral flexion. Reflective skin markers will be used as X/Y/Z coordinates for morphometric analysis.

  • Changes in autonomic function during divided attention test, Valsalva maneuver, cold pressor test, and deep breathing via HRV4-6 weeks

    Heart rate variability (HRV) in milliseconds (ms)

  • Changes in autonomic function during divided attention test, Valsalva maneuver, cold pressor test, and deep breathing via GSR4-6 weeks

    Galvanic skin response (GSR) in micro-Siemens (uS)

  • Changes in autonomic function during divided attention test, Valsalva maneuver, cold pressor test, and deep breathing via pupillary changes4-6 weeks

    Pupil size changes measured in millimeters (mm)

  • Pain pressure threshold (PPT)4-6 weeks

    Using algometry to measure PPT (kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm2)) in the following locations bilaterally: 2cm lateral and superior to the C2 spinous process, masseter 2.5cm anterior and 1.5cm inferior to the tragus of the ear, and over the middle of the thenar eminence.