The Future of Osteopathy.

Every clinician has the duty to keep clinical and scientific knowledge updated, with the aim of improving clinical practice. Many homeostatic reactions of the organism are not yet well understood and framed by medicine or classical physics. Quantum physics offers new and multiple information to understand how the human body works, starting from the assumption that the macroscopic is managed by nanoscopic quantum coherence. The future of osteopathy should be to integrate the educational path with quantum physics.

Motor Dysfunctions in Fibromyalgia Patients: The Importance of Breathing.

The classification of fibromyalgia (FM) is not always immediate and simple, with the time from the first diagnosis, compared to the onset of symptoms, of a few years. Currently, we do not have instrumental or biochemical tests considered as gold standards; the clinician will make a diagnosis of FM based on the patient's medical history and subjective assessment. The symptoms can involve physical, cognitive and psychological disorders, with the presence of pain of different origins and classifications: nociplastic, nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Among the symptoms highlighted, postural disorders and neuromotor uncoordination emerge, whose functional dysfunctions can increase the mortality and morbidity rate. An alteration of the diaphragm muscle could generate such functional motor problems. Considering that the current literature underestimates the importance of breathing in FM, the article aims to highlight the relationship between motor and diaphragmatic difficulties in the patient, soliciting new points of view for the clinical and therapeutic framework.

Symptoms Arising From the Diaphragm Muscle: Function and Dysfunction.

There can be many reasons that damage the function of the diaphragm, either transiently or permanently, involving one hemilate or both muscle portions. The diaphragm is associated only with breathing, but many other functions are related to it. The patient is not always aware of the presence of diaphragmatic dysfunction, and it is not always immediate to identify non-respiratory diaphragmatic symptoms. Pseudoanginal pain, night sweats, difficulty memorizing, or muscular and visceral problems of the pelvic floor are just some of the disorders linked to reduced diaphragmatic contractility. A decline in respiratory contractile force can be the basis for further pathological conditions that can increase the rate of mortality and morbidity. The article reviews the possible symptoms that may be presented by the patient, which are not necessarily related to lung function.

The Sentient Cell: Implications for Osteopathic Medicine.

The Foundation of Osteopathic Research and Clinical Endorsement (FORCE) is an organization that includes various figures involved in clinical and non-profit research and does not depend on any private or government body. To better understand how the human body behaves, we need to observe cellular behavior. Considering the human body as layers, districts, and regions, or just as a machine, is severely limiting to understanding the systemic mechanisms that are implemented to maintain bodily health. For some years, FORCE has contributed several articles to the literature to support the view of a human body as a unit, a fascial continuum (solid and fluid fascia) capable of interacting consciously, and not as a passive mirror, with respect to external stresses. The article reviews the tensegrity theory applied to the cell, trying to bring to light that the mechanistic vision on which this theory is based does not meet biological reality. We review some concepts related to biology, the science that studies life, and quantum physics, the science that studies the invisible physical phenomena that underlie life. Understanding that the cells and tissues are aware of the therapeutic approaches they receive could better guide the decisions of the osteopathic clinician.

Proposal for Manual Osteopathic Treatment of the Phrenic Nerve.

The article reviews the anatomical path of the phrenic nerve and its anastomoses, with the most up-to-date knowledge reported in the literature. We have briefly reviewed the possible phrenic dysfunctions, with the final aim of presenting an osteopathic manual approach for the treatment of the most superficial portion of the nerve, using a gentle technique. The approach we propose is, therefore, a theory based on clinical experience and the rationale that we can extrapolate from the literature. We hope that the article will be a stimulus for further experimental investigations using the technique illustrated in the article. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first article that takes into consideration the hypothesis of an osteopathic treatment with gentle techniques for the phrenic nerve.

Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2024.

The fascial system is the focus of multiple scientific disciplines, and its nomenclature is debated. What tissue should fall under the definition of fascia? Considering university anatomy books where what is considered connective tissue is described as a fact, and through the science of embryology, which allows us to identify the origin of different body tissues, the article reviews and updates the fascial nomenclature. The text is not a point of arrival but rather a basis from which to start again, with the aim of understanding the function of the fascial continuum in the living. The history of fascial nomenclature in historical and modern contexts is reviewed, including the scientific perspective of the Foundation of Osteopathic Research and Clinical Endorsement (FORCE) organization. The latter has no profit-making purposes and does not hold any copyright.

The Importance of Diaphragmatic Function in Neuromuscular Expression in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a set of symptoms and physical manifestations caused by the inability of the heart to perform its normal contractile function and satisfy the blood needs of all organs. This dysfunction leads to a non-physiological adaptation of all body systems, including the skeletal muscles and the diaphragm. The myopathy found in patients brings symptoms such as fatigue and intolerance to exercise, with an entity not always attributable to cardiac function. Neuromuscular incoordination is one of the symptoms related to CHF, causing an increased risk of mortality and hospitalization. The article reviews diaphragmatic adaptation in the presence of CHF and seeks to emphasize the importance of the diaphragm in understanding skeletal muscle incoordination in patients.

The Osteopath's Imprint: Osteopathic Medicine Under the Nanoscopic Lens.

Scientific literature demonstrates how osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) are able to improve various somatic functional parameters, change somato-visceral and viscero-somatic reflexes toward a more physiological mechano-metabolic environment and, consequently, bring benefits to patients. These benefits can be long-lasting or short-lived. Multiple reasons can be found to explain the positive responses to OMT, ranging from neurological, vascular, lymphatic, and endocrine explanations. Not only the techniques, but the touch of the clinician prove to be important factors for a favorable adaptation by the patient. Another science capable of explaining the change in cellular status and from which reflections that pave the way for observing the human body in a different light can be extrapolated is quantum physics. The latter is rarely taken into consideration to obtain possible explanations of the physical events that occur between the clinician and the patient. The article tries to put the effects of OMT under the light of a new lens: the nanoscopic.

Hyoid Bone Syndrome in a Patient Undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

The clinical case describes the presence of hyoid bone syndrome (HBS) in a patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, and the resolution of painful symptoms through an osteopathic manual technique (unwinding) applied to the tongue. To the knowledge of the authors, it is the first case report involving an LVAD patient with HBS treated with an osteopathic approach. The article briefly reviews the data relating to surgical therapy for patients with a clinical history of end-stage heart failure and symptoms related to HBS and posits some hypotheses on the presence of pain radiating from the hyoid bone to other areas of the body. The text reminds us to place greater clinical emphasis on the palpatory evaluation of the hyoid in the presence of non-specific painful symptoms.

Rethinking the Origin of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism.

Spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) is the joint regarded as the most important foundation for understanding cranial osteopathy and craniosacral therapy. SOS is the origin of the primary respiratory mechanism (PRM), a movement between the posterior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone and the anterior surface of the base of the occipital bone. From the PRM perspective, an alteration of the position between the two bone surfaces would create cranial and/or craniosacral dysfunction. These positional alterations of the SOS (in adults and children) would determine specific and schematical movements of the bones of the entire skull, whose movements are recognizable by palpation by trained operators. PRM expression is influenced by other elements, such as movement of the cranial bones, inherent movement of the central nervous system, cyclic movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), mechanical tension of the cranial meninges, and passive movement of the sacral bone between the iliac bones. The article reviews the most up-to-date information on the evolution of cranial sutures/joints and meninges in adulthood, the fluctuations of the CSF, brain, and spinal mass movements. Research should reconsider the motivations that induce the operator to discriminate the palpable cranial rhythmic impulse, and probably, to rethink new cranial dysfunctional patterns.

Peritoneal Adhesions in Osteopathic Medicine: Theory, Part 1.

Peritoneal adhesions form as a result of trauma to the abdomen, injuries resulting from surgery, and infections. These tissutal neoformations are innervated and vascularized, and with lymphatic vessels, adherence becomes a new and independent structure, capable of negatively influencing visceral functions. Adherent neogenesis can be asymptomatic or can be a source of pain, limiting the patient's quality of life. Although adhesiolysis remains the elective approach to eliminate adhesions, this therapeutic route prepares the peritoneal anatomical area to recur. The article reviews information on adhesion formation and peritoneal anatomy, probable subjective predispositions, and pathways that carry nociception. The text aims to be a theoretical basis for making new treatment suggestions for non-invasive osteopathic medicine, through a second part will be discussed in another article.

The Cognitive and Emotional Aspect in Fibromyalgia: The Importance of the Orofacial Sphere.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a systemic and multifactorial disease of unknown etiology. There are many co-morbidities that the patient presents, making the clinical picture not immediate. Cognitive decline and emotional alteration (anxiety and depression) are found in fibromyalgic patients, as well as temporomandibular joint arthrokinematic disorders, dental malocclusion, and periodontitis. There seems to be a biunivocal relationship between oral and psychiatric dysfunctions in fibromyalgia. The article reviews the information regarding oral health alterations with respect to the patient's cognitive and emotional response, as the most recent information we have raises new hypotheses about the diagnosis of FMS.

Practice of Peritoneal Adhesions in Osteopathic Medicine: Part 2.

Peritoneal adhesions are an unwanted and frequent event following abdominal surgery, with a response rate that can reach 100%. The adhesions can be symptomatic, becoming a source of pain and discomfort for the patient, or asymptomatic, with possible chronic or acute visceral dysfunction. The article reviews what the diagnostic strategies are and discusses what could be the causes that lead to chronic pain in the presence of adhesions. The text reports the knowledge of the literature on the manual treatment of adhesions and illustrates possible symptoms that are not easily recognized by the clinician. To conclude, the article proposes osteopathic manual approaches derived from clinical experience and from what has been explained about the formation of peritoneal adhesions. Research must make further efforts to identify not only the causes triggering the formation of peritoneal neogenesis but also seek the most appropriate non-invasive treatments to help the patient.

Osteopathic Approach for Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars.

The skin is a complex organ, a system that influences and is influenced by the body system, with different skin layers always mechano-biologically active. In the presence of a lesion that damages the dermis, the skin undergoes sensory, morphological, and functional alterations. The subsequent adaptation is the formation of scar tissue, following distinct and overlapping biological phases. For reasons not yet fully elucidated, some healing processes lead to pathological scars, from which symptoms such as pain, itching, and functional limitations are derived. Currently, there is no gold standard treatment that fully meets the needs of different scars and can eliminate any symptoms that the patient suffers. One such treatment is manual medicine, which involves direct manual approaches to the site of injury. Reviewing the phases that allow the skin to be remodeled following an injury, this article reflects on the usefulness of resorting to these procedures, highlighting erroneous concepts on which the manual approach is based, compared to what the current literature highlights the cicatricial processes. Considering pathological scar adaptations, it would be better to follow a gentle manual approach.

General Anesthesia With Successful Immediate Post-operative Extubation for Sarcoma Excision in a 61-Year-Old Male With Kennedy's Disease.

Kennedy's disease (KD), also known as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), is a rare, X-linked recessive androgen receptor gene mutation affecting approximately one in 40,000 males. A prominent anesthetic concern in patients with KD is their ability to maintain a patent airway following general anesthesia. We present the case of a 61-year-old man with a history of KD presenting for a left thigh sarcoma excision. The patient received a general anesthetic with endotracheal tube placement, was extubated in the operating room upon completion of the surgery, and had an uneventful post-operative course.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Role of the Diaphragm.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes multiple local and systemic pathophysiological consequences, which lead to an increase in morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from this disorder. OSA presents with various nocturnal events of apnoeas or hypopneas and with sub-clinical airflow limitations during wakefulness. OSA involves a large percentage of the population, particularly men, but the estimate of OSA patients could be much broader than data from the literature. Most of the research carried out in the muscle field is to understand the causes of the presence of chronic nocturnal desaturation and focus on the genioglossus muscle and other muscles related to dilating the upper airways. Sparse research has been published regarding the diaphragm muscle, which is the main muscle structure to insufflate air into the airways. The article reviews the functional anatomy of the muscles used to open the upper respiratory tract and the non-physiological adaptation that follows in the presence of OSA, as well as the functional anatomy and pathological adaptive aspects of the diaphragm muscle. The intent of the text is to highlight the disparity of clinical interest between the dilator muscles and the diaphragm, trying to stimulate a broader approach to patient evaluation.

Diphenhydramine-Induced Torsade De Pointes With Pharmacological Cardioversion in a Patient With Methadone-Induced QT Prolongation.

The anesthetic management of patients with chronic pain requires a thorough understanding of the physiologic changes resulting from long-term exposure to opioids, as well as a firm comprehension of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of these medications. We present the case of a 60-year-old woman on methadone therapy presenting for cervical laminectomy and fusion. After intraoperative dysrhythmias, she underwent pharmacological cardioversion from torsade de pointes. This occurred intraoperatively after receiving 25 mg of intravenous diphenhydramine to attenuate erythema thought to be secondary to antibiotic administration. The use of a routine antihistamine may present a torsadogenic reaction in the setting of methadone maintenance treatment.

Immune-Mediated Myopathy in a Patient Presenting for Melanoma Resection and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.

Statin-induced necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (SINAM) is a rare side effect in people who are taking a class of drugs called statins. Patients with SINAM will present with subacute severe symmetric proximal muscle weakness. In contrast to more common myopathies, SINAM may not spontaneously resolve with statin discontinuation. These patients may require long-term immunotherapy to limit further disease progression. In this case study, we report a 74-year-old female with SINAM who presented for radical excision of a right upper back melanoma and sentinel lymph node biopsy at an outpatient facility. An anesthetic plan was crafted with the use of a supraglottic airway device without neuromuscular blockade.

Spur-of-the-Moment: An Exacting Nasal Intubation.

Nasotracheal intubations are an important airway management technique in otolaryngologic surgeries and trauma distorting oropharyngeal structures. For those performing these procedures, nasal deformities are not uncommon. This case report highlights an example of recurrent cuff tears that occurred during nasotracheal intubation of a patient with an unknown nasal bone spur. A careful airway analysis with available imaging studies may predict the potential difficulty with nasotracheal intubation. A successful approach to nasotracheal intubation can then be attempted on the contralateral side if a nasal bone spur is present.

Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2022.

The connective tissue or fascia plays key roles in maintaining bodily function and health. The fascia is made up of solid and fluid portions, which interpenetrate and interact with each other, forming a polymorphic three-dimensional network. In the vast panorama of literature there is no univocal thought on the nomenclature and terminology that best represents the concept of fascia. The Foundation of Osteopathic Research and Clinical Endorsement (FORCE) organization brings together various scientific figures in a multidisciplinary perspective. FORCE tries to find a common nomenclature that can be shared, starting from the scientific notions currently available. Knowledge of the fascial continuum should always be at the service of the clinician and never become an exclusive for the presence of copyright, or commodified for the gain of a few. FORCE is a non-profit organization serving all professionals who deal with patient health. The article reviews the concepts of fascia, including some science subjects rarely considered, to gain an understanding of the broader fascial topic, and proposing new concepts, such as the holographic fascia.