An osteopathic consideration of research – a critical narrative literature review of soft-tissue techniques
Item
- Title
- An osteopathic consideration of research – a critical narrative literature review of soft-tissue techniques
- Title
- An osteopathic consideration of research – a critical narrative literature review of soft-tissue techniques
- Author(s)
- Plunkett Austin
- Abstract
- Introduction and objectives: Osteopathy is under pressure to justify its practices. Osteopaths have historically struggled to produce evidence that is considered of high quality. The near-universal treatment modality of soft-tissue technique is used to explore notions of quality that underpin typical hierarchies of evidence. Method: Search terms were isolated from a formal definition of soft-tissue technique. Manual and electronic database search revealed 1359 papers, of which 31 met inclusion criteria. These were assessed using appropriate instruments, and by content analysis. Relations between journal popularity and research quality were explored. A domain-based model for analysis of research themes was formulated and applied. Results. Randomised controlled trials appear to be of higher methodological quality, and more plentiful, than other research. Journal popularity has little relationship with methodological rigour of research. Soft-tissue researchers overwhelmingly consider only biomechanical aspects of pain and other dysfunctions. Patient cohorts considering surgery overlap with those using soft-tissue therapies. Conclusion. A hierarchical ordering of research methodologies may encourage bias towards those that are intrinsically capable of strong internal validity, at the detriment of external and ecological validity. Osteopathy may benefit from a concerted effort to translate existing research into clinical practice. A domain-based model may reveal unique insights into research themes, hopefully offering a distinctly osteopathic perspective.
- Abstract
- Introduction and objectives: Osteopathy is under pressure to justify its practices. Osteopaths have historically struggled to produce evidence that is considered of high quality. The near-universal treatment modality of soft-tissue technique is used to explore notions of quality that underpin typical hierarchies of evidence. Method: Search terms were isolated from a formal definition of soft-tissue technique. Manual and electronic database search revealed 1359 papers, of which 31 met inclusion criteria. These were assessed using appropriate instruments, and by content analysis. Relations between journal popularity and research quality were explored. A domain-based model for analysis of research themes was formulated and applied. Results. Randomised controlled trials appear to be of higher methodological quality, and more plentiful, than other research. Journal popularity has little relationship with methodological rigour of research. Soft-tissue researchers overwhelmingly consider only biomechanical aspects of pain and other dysfunctions. Patient cohorts considering surgery overlap with those using soft-tissue therapies. Conclusion. A hierarchical ordering of research methodologies may encourage bias towards those that are intrinsically capable of strong internal validity, at the detriment of external and ecological validity. Osteopathy may benefit from a concerted effort to translate existing research into clinical practice. A domain-based model may reveal unique insights into research themes, hopefully offering a distinctly osteopathic perspective.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15096
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Evidence, quality, soft-tissue, massage, research
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Plunkett Austin, “An osteopathic consideration of research – a critical narrative literature review of soft-tissue techniques”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 19, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/1632