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Abstract:
Objective:
The task of this pilot-study was to examine whether osteopatic treatment can play a role in the correction of infantile swallowing and whether it could influence the accompanying symptoms, such as inflammation processes in the ENT area, breathing through the mouth, headaches and tooth and jaw deformities.
Design:
The work was carried out as a controlled, prospective pilot-study.
Setting:
The study was carried out between September 2001 and January 2003 by two osteopaths from the COE in Munich.
Methods:
18 children ranging in age from 7-11 years took part in the study. Examination of the participants occurred before and after a waiting period of eight weeks. Following this, treatment was carried out nine times over a period of nine weeks. Thereafter another examination was performed. Due to the waiting periods the condition before and after treatment could be compared. The measurement-parameters were three swallowing tests, the Payne method and video analysis. For the accompanying symptoms a questionnaire, drawn up by one of the authors was completed four times by the parents of the participants of the study.
Result:
The comparison of the data collected, before and after the osteopathic treatment, showed a clear improvement, as far as the main and subsidiary parameter goals are concerned. In particular the results of the Payne tests, the swallowing tests, nasal problems and breathing through the mouth showed a positive change. Due to the limited number of participants of this pilot-study, no significant statistics could be presented.
Conclusion:
After treating 18 children suffering from infantile swallowing (and its secondary symptoms) over a period of 9 weeks, it can be said that the positive results prove without doubt that osteopathy can be a valuable contribution to the treatment of this disorder.
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