Back to the Future: An Appraisal of the Role of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Patients with Neurological Diseases.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands-on therapy that aims to promote homeostasis by individuating and treating somatic dysfunctions (SDs), including alterations in muscular tissue. Presently, patients affected by neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease [PD], multiple sclerosis [MS], and mild traumatic brain injury) often present to the osteopaths for treatment of motor symptoms, fatigue, stiffness, and chronic pain. OMT could be a safe adjunct treatment to promote physical wellness in such patients. However, there are many unanswered questions about its efficacy, especially regarding patients with neurological diseases. In this commentary, the authors encourage and promote the implementation of OMT as a complementary therapy in the neurorehabilitation field.