Osteopathic Manipulation Study - An Interview with Dr. Miriam V. Mills by Lady Camelot Recently, I had
unique privilege to interview Miriam V. Mills, (M.D., FAAP) from Young People's Clinic in Tulsa, OK. Dr. Mills is credited for directing landmark research project (at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine) on study of Osteopathic manipulative treatment for ear infections in children. The study was first publicized in MD (allopathic) literature and more recently in Sept 2003 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
Dr. Mills remarked: "Osteopathic manipulative treatment was developed by Andrew Taylor Still (who was himself an MD, but who established osteopathy) over 100 years ago. One of his students, William Garner Sutherland, expanded manipulative treatments to include head and related structures, which is called osteopathy in cranial field. There is not one "technique" that is used, but a variety of approaches, depending on problem encountered. This has been taught for over 50 years. The experience of most practitioners of these methods find remarkable benefit from them, though there has been little in literature to document these experiences.
I am a pediatrician in private practice (Young People's Clinic, PC, in Tulsa, OK (www.youngpeoplesclinic.yourmd.com/miriammills), and I find that in my general pediatric practice, having used these manipulative techniques for last 10 years (as am MD, I learned these techniques after being in practice already awhile), I have less problems with colic and feeding problems, headaches, ear infections, and complications of upper and lower respiratory infections. I admit fewer children to hospital and have to refer fewer children for sub-specialist care than my pediatric colleagues.
Since development of osteopathy in cranial field, other practitioners (including chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists) have utilized some of same methods, going by name of `cranio-sacral therapy.' I cannot vouch for exactly what these methods are, or their effectiveness, as they are not what was studied in my research."
According to Dr. Mills, study was performed under controlled, blinded groups of children across four (4) sites in nation. Of these groups, 32 children were in control group and 25 were in treatment group. The study produced phenomenal findings. The culmination of a six-month observation period demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in (within treatment group) episodic ear infections.
Of control group, 8 children reverted to tube installation as opposed to 1 in treatment group. Dr. Mills explained, "...There was a trend, though not quite statistically significant, to having fewer antibiotics prescribed to children in treatment group."
