SynthesisBMC complementary and alternative medicine2018
Reliability of diagnosis and clinical efficacy of visceral osteopathy: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07665905 (Investigation of the Effects of Visceral Osteopathic Massage Techniques on Semen Parameters and Hemodynamic Factors in Men With Varicocele), which is not on this map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis 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.
Investigation of the Effects of Visceral Osteopathic Massage Techniques on Semen Parameters and Hemodynamic Factors in Men With Varicocele: A Randomized Controlled Study
Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 49 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of visceral fascial therapy targeting visceral dysfunctions outcome: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Pooled it
- Novel Sonoguided Digital Palpation and Hydrodissection for Sural Nerve Dysfunction Mimicking Achilles Tendinopathy in a Psoriasis Patient.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Characteristics of Australian and New Zealand osteopaths who treat patients presenting with non-musculoskeletal complaints: outcomes from two practice-based research networks.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Article
- Clinical Reasoning and Practices in the Osteopathic Management of Visceral Disorders: A Grounded Theory Study in the Italian Context.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Novel Sonoguided Digital Palpation and Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection of the Long Thoracic Nerve for Managing Serratus Anterior Muscle Pain Syndrome: A Case Report with Technical Details.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Article
- Diagnosing and treating upper back pain: insights from New Zealand's manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy · 2025Article
- A national survey of osteopaths' conceptions of practice in France: structural validity of the Osteo-TAQfr and the tendency toward technical rationality.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- "The Dark Side of Musculoskeletal Care": Why Do Ineffective Techniques Seem to Work? A Comprehensive Review of Complementary and Alternative Therapies.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Clinically Superior to Sham or Placebo for Patients with Neck or Low-Back Pain? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Reconceptualizing Somatic Dysfunction in the Light of a Neuroaesthetic Enactive Paradigm.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Priorities in updating training paradigms in orthopedic manual therapy: an international Delphi studyJournal of educational evaluation for health professions · 2023Article
- Historical Osteopathic Principles and Practices in Contemporary Care: An Anthropological Perspective to Foster Evidence-Informed and Culturally Sensitive Patient-Centered Care: A Commentary.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Comparison of Concordance between Chuna Manual Therapy Diagnostic Methods (Palpation, X-ray, Artificial Intelligence Program) in Lumbar Spine: An Exploratory, Cross-Sectional Clinical Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Comparison of the Effect of Osteopathic Manipulations and Exercises on the Myoelectric Activity of the Pelvic Floor: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2022Article
- Demographic, practice and clinical management characteristics of osteopaths referring to podiatrists: secondary analysis of a nationally representative sample of Australian osteopaths.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Osteopathic Palpation of the Heart.Cureus · 2021Review
- Osteopathic Considerations for Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Concomitant Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis Syndrome and Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis: Case Report.Interactive journal of medical research · 2019Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn 2010, the World Health Organization published benchmarks for training in osteopathy in which osteopathic visceral techniques are included. The purpose of this study was to identify and critically appraise the scientific literature concerning the reliability of diagnosis and the clinical efficacy of techniques used in visceral osteopathy.
methodsDatabases MEDLINE, OSTMED.DR, the Cochrane Library, Osteopathic Research Web, Google Scholar, Journal of American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) website, International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (IJOM) website, and the catalog of Académie d'ostéopathie de France website were searched through December 2017. Only inter-rater reliability studies including at least two raters or the intra-rater reliability studies including at least two assessments by the same rater were included. For efficacy studies, only randomized-controlled-trials (RCT) or crossover studies on unhealthy subjects (any condition, duration and outcome) were included. Risk of bias was determined using a modified version of the quality appraisal tool for studies of diagnostic reliability (QAREL) in reliability studies. For the efficacy studies, the Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess their methodological design. Two authors performed data extraction and analysis.
resultsEight reliability studies and six efficacy studies were included. The analysis of reliability studies shows that the diagnostic techniques used in visceral osteopathy are unreliable. Regarding efficacy studies, the least biased study shows no significant difference for the main outcome. The main risks of bias found in the included studies were due to the absence of blinding of the examiners, an unsuitable statistical method or an absence of primary study outcome.
conclusionsThe results of the systematic review lead us to conclude that well-conducted and sound evidence on the reliability and the efficacy of techniques in visceral osteopathy is absent.
trial registrationThe review is registered PROSPERO 12th of December 2016. Registration number is CRD4201605286 .
Indexed as
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.