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Exploring the Mechanism of Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) on Brain Structure and Function in Primary Headache Patients: A Pilot Study

ClinicalTrials.gov · COMPLETED, 2026

31 participants

Abstract

Chronic headaches are associated with changes in brain structure and function that may be associated with increased suffering and disability. Understanding how Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) affects these changes would reveal new insight into how the brain processes pain and returns to normal function. Also, demonstrating these changes would provide evidence regarding how OMT causes a reduction in pain and disability, supporting the recommendation for OMT as a primary treatment option for headaches.

Conditions: Primary Headaches (Migraines, Tension, Cluster Headaches).

Primary outcome: Brain Structural and Functional Changes.

Enrollment: 31 participants.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 31 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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