The Role of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in the Rehabilitation of a Competitive Dancer after a Major Abdominal Surgery

Transmural inflammation in Crohn’s disease can lead to stricturing of the bowel which may result in an obstruction and perforation of the intestines. Emergent surgery is indicated to amend a perforation but complications, such as edema, can limit a surgeon’s ability to close the abdominal wall. In such a case, the open wounds may heal by secondary intent where new tissue is laid down from the base upwards. This case report describes a 23-year-old woman completing her Bachelor of Arts in dance with a past medical history of stricturing and inflammatory ileocolonic Crohn’s disease who presented to the osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) clinic for multiple open abdominal wounds and weakness. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report detailing the benefits of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to healing open abdominal wounds, increasing flexibility and physical fitness, and improving the mental health of an individual who required prompt rehabilitation to return to the high-level of fitness required to pursue a career as a professional dancer.