ReviewEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2017
Compression of the Fourth Ventricle Using a Craniosacral Osteopathic Technique: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence.
Review in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Alterations in Bioelectric Activity at Acupuncture Jing-Well (Ting) Points Following CV4 Cranial Manipulation
Physiological Responses to Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques in Healthy Young Adults
Effect of a Sequence of Specific Manual Therapy Techniques Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults: a Single-application Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of manual osteopathic techniques on the autonomic nervous system, respiratory system function and head-cervical-shoulder complex-a systematic review.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Craniosacral therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2019Pooled it
- Effects of the Fourth Ventricle Compression Technique and Rib Raising Osteopathic Technique on Autonomic Nervous System Activity Measured by Heart Rate Variability in 35 Healthy Individuals.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2023Trial
- Impact of Osteopathic Techniques on Autonomic Regulation: A Study of Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Adults.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025Article
- Profound Near Fatal Respiratory Dysfunction in a Neonate With Meningomyelocele: A Narrative With Neurosurgical Lessons.Case reports in pediatrics · 2025Article
- Article
- Neurophysiology, Neuro-Immune Interactions, and Mechanobiology in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field: An Evidence-Informed Perspective for a Scientific Rationale.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Management of Post-Viral Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome With Craniosacral Therapy.Cureus · 2023Article
- Effect of a Craniosacral Therapy Protocol in People with Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Osteopathy in the Cranial Field as a Method to Enhance Brain Injury Recovery: A Preliminary Study.Neurotrauma reports · 2022Article
- Cranial Osteopathy: Obscurantism and Enlightenment.Cureus · 2019Review
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as an Intervention to Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in First Responders: A Pilot Study.Missouri medicineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4) is a well-known osteopathic procedure, utilized by osteopaths, osteopathic physicians, craniosacral therapists, physical therapists, and manual therapists as part of their healthcare practice based on some evidence suggesting impact on nervous system functions. The main objective of the study was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the clinical benefits of CV4 and to show the evidence supporting clinical prescriptions, guides, and advice in treating. A computerized search of the PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases was performed. Two filters were used (article type: RCTs; species: humans). The methodological quality of the trials was assessed using the Downs and Black quality checklist for healthcare intervention studies. Only six studies met the inclusion criteria, of which four were RCTs and two were observational studies. The Downs and Black score ranged from 17 to 24 points out of a maximum of 27 points. The present review revealed the paucity of CV4 research in patients with different clinical problems, as five out of six included studies investigated healthy adults. According to the results of the included studies, CV4 may be beneficial for patients with different functional problems.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.