The Effect of OMT on Functional Outcomes and Anti-inflammatory Biomarkers in Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

This project proposes to test the hypothesis that a certain set of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) procedures performed on patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) will result in accelerated rates of recovery as assessed using vestibular function tests, patient response on quality of life questionnaires, and measurements of the levels of anti-inflammatory metabolite and protein biomarkers in urine and blood. The OMT techniques, performed ensemble (as a set) and in sequence, will encompass: (a) soft tissue to the upper-mid thoracic spine; (b) soft tissue to the cervical spine; (c) suboccipital release; (d) condylar decompression; and (e) cranial venous sinus release. The key clinical outcome measures will include Neurocom Balance Manager assessments (Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance; Stability Evaluation Test; Rhythmic Weight Shift; Limits of Stability), Vestibular Oculomotor Screen, Motion Sensitivity Test, as well as questionnaires such as Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and the more general quality of life measures (dressing, bathing, medication management, etc. as assessed by the SF 36 QOL questionnaire).

A unique and trail blazing aspect of our proposed work is to screen for biochemical alterations in the plasma and urine of these patients following administration of OMT and to correlate these changes with vestibular function tests and other clinical parameters that may shed light on the biological mechanism(s) underlying the OMT. The impact of our proposed research lies in our attempt to establish a foundation for the basis of using OMT procedures to accelerate recovery of patients following mild to moderate brain injury and to find correlations between cognitive functions, biochemical markers, and self-reported assessments of quality of life.

The successful achievement of positive outcomes in this project will serve as the basis for our future efforts to seek funding from the National Institutes of Health for recruitment of larger numbers of subjects in a multi-center research effort.

• Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (Other), also known as OMT: OMT techniques applied in the thoracic spine soft tissue, cervical spine soft tissue, suboccipital release, occipital condyle condylar decompression, and cranial venous sinus release.

Primary outcomes

• Change from baseline Neurocom Balance Manager assessment in 12 weeks after OMT [12 weeks]: Participants will be evaluated prior to treatment on the Neurocom Balance Manager. Reassessment done at 12 week. The balance score will be recorded.
• Change of baseline Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) scores after 12 weeks of OMT [12 weeks]: Participants will be given the HIT-6 questionnaire at 0 and12 weeks. The scores will be recorded.

Secondary outcomes

• Change in Anti-inflammatory Biomarker after 12 weeks of OMT or sham treatment [12 weeks]: Urine sample will be taken one hour prior to initial OMT or sham treatment and again at12 weeks. Plasma samples will be taken one hour prior to OMT/sham treatment and 48 hours after treatment this will be done at week 0, 6 and 12. The anti-inflammatory biomarkers will be recorded and compared (before/after treatment) to see if they levels decrease after OMT treatments

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of mild to moderate traumatic brain injury
* Chief complaint of headache and/or dizziness
* 18 years or older
* Medically stable/free from acute infection or fever
* Not a danger to self or others
* Not actively engaged in substance abuse
* Minimum Ranchos Los Amigos Level of 4 (http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/symptoms-of-tbi/).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Minors below age of 18
* Any acute fracture or bleeding
* Head, neck or back wounds that would prevent OMT treatment

• Rebecca Wyatt, DO, Principal investigator, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University