2021 Osteopathy Australia grant recipients

Osteopathy Australia is committed to supporting research that advances the profession. To assist researchers, the association seeks to fund osteopathic research in line with our research aims and priorities. In 2021, researchers were invited to submit applications for research funding in the form of either project or seeding grants. The following projects were successful in receiving research funding from Osteopathy Australia in the 2021-2022 financial year.

Osteopathic management of non-specific neck pain: a case series Chief Investigator: Michael Fleischmann Institution: Victoria University Project Summary: Research shows osteopaths frequently manage neck pain. The techniques used by osteopaths are effective for pain reduction and improving neck movement. However, no research has explored why osteopaths choose to use certain treatment techniques, implement certain management strategies, and how osteopaths determine their effectiveness for the management of non-specific neck pain. This study will implement a treatment approach recommended by an expert panel of osteopaths for the management of chronic nonspecific neck pain. It will explore how osteopaths implement the therapeutic approaches described by an expert panel for the management of chronic non-specific neck pain and it will generate hypotheses that subsequently can be tested in clinical trial studies.

Association between primitive reflexes, motor function and executive function in preschool children Chief Investigator: Kylie McWhirter Institution: University of Technology Sydney Project Summary: This project is a longitudinal observational cohort study that aims to explore the association between primitive reflex retention, motor function and executive function in a cohort of preschool children. The same cohort will be followed up approximately 12 months later, once in kindergarten, to reassess these same factors and determine if preschool assessment is predictive of outcome in kindergarten. This clinical study examines an aspect of care that has received limited researcher attention – within and outside of the osteopathic research community – and aims to contribute to the evidence base for a practice employed by many osteopaths who have a clinical focus on paediatric development and assessment. This project seeks to answer clinical questions that osteopaths would encounter regarding the relevance and implications of motor deficit and reflex retention findings within their practice. Such research outcomes would benefit clinical decision-making and inform best practice, as well as expand market opportunities for osteopaths and the profession.

Use of respiratory and quality of life patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for patients seeking osteopathic care: an Australian cohort study Chief Investigator: Lee Muddle Institution: University of Technology Sydney and Southern Cross University Project Summary: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive airflow limitation, decreasing exercise capacity and deteriorating quality of life. It is common among people over the age of 40 years. A growing proportion of people over 40 see osteopaths for the management of chronic neck and/or back pain. Given the prevalence of COPD, a proportion of these patients also have COPD. Understanding how COPD is progressing in a patient undergoing osteopathic care for neck and/or back pain provides an opportunity to improve overall management of the patient as interaction between chronic diseases affects prognosis. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are an objective measure of a patient’s condition. However, respiratory PROMs are not currently part of routine osteopathic practice. The aim of this project is to assess the use of a respiratory PROM on osteopathic patients with COPD. Fifty osteopaths will be recruited to the study and asked to enrol four patients each with an existing diagnosis of COPD. Data will be collected from these patients on three occasions over a six-month period. The project will increase the scope of osteopaths to monitor the effectiveness of care, address a comorbidity commonly seen in osteopathic practice and promote strategies that improve patient management.

Osteopaths’ Therapeutic Approaches Questionnaire (Osteo-TAQ): a crosssectional study of Australian Osteopaths Chief Investigator: Oliver Thomson Institution: University College of Osteopathy and The University of Melbourne Project Summary: Research shows that osteopaths display different approaches to their clinical decision-making and care of their patients. Outcomes in patients experiencing common musculoskeletal problems (e.g. back pain) are influenced by different aspects such as the therapeutic relationship with their practitioner, the presence and impact of psychosocial factors and the biopsychosocial orientation of the practitioner. Developing knowledge of the complex, varied and distinctiveness of osteopathic approaches will facilitate more targeted delivery of treatment and measurement of patient-focused outcomes. As part of its professional maturation, osteopathy should continue to critically reflect on its traditional assumptions and generate evidence to understand the complex nature of practice. The Osteopaths’ Therapeutic Approach Questionnaire (Osteo-TAQ) is a novel tool based on empirical qualitative research from osteopaths and theory from healthcare sociology and psychology. The OsteoTAQ is designed to provide knowledge about the different dimensions that form the complex clinical approaches that osteopaths take with their patients and has the potential to be used with patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs). The data from this study will highlight the role that Australian osteopaths may play in the wider healthcare landscape, identify areas to develop and support a clinician’s practice and inform future research to understand patient outcomes from osteopathic care.

Osteopathy Australia research webinar series launched

Osteopathy Australia’s research program supports and advocates for the profession through research by highlighting the research pathways open to clinicians, both in practice and in academia.

As part of this initiative, we have launched a series of research webinars that aim to inspire early career researchers and allied health clinicians to pursue health and medical research careers.

The series kicks off with two webinars discussing life as a clinician-scientist.

Visit www.osteopathy.org.au to find out more and view the webinars.

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