Abstract
Background and Introduction:
Peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) refers to pain caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system, resulting in symptoms such as burning, tingling, and numbness. In cancer patients, PNP is often induced by neurotoxic chemotherapy agents, a condition known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Approximately 30–40% of patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy develop CIPN, with common drugs such as platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, and taxanes being frequent culprits. CIPN can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life, leading to treatment interruptions, dose modifications, or premature chemotherapy discontinuation due to pain intolerance. Despite its potential benefits, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) remains underused in the management of CIPN within the oncology field.
Objective:
What is the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients experiencing cancer-related pain?
Methods:
A PubMed search was conducted using the search terms OMM, osteopathic manip*, osteopathic treatment, cancer, cancer pain and cancer pain management. Inclusion criteria for the study involved oncologic patients with chemotherapy-induced or radiation-induced peripheral neuropathic pain, or chronic cancer-related pain. Studies conducted within the last 5–10 years were also included. Studies without full data or focusing on pain unrelated to cancer were excluded.
Results:
The compiled data, sourced from PubMed articles, suggests that OMT offers a promising adjunctive therapy for managing CIPN and improving patient outcomes. The studies yield significant decreases in pain scores and pain relief as a result of OMT over certain periods of time in hospitalized geriatric patients and cancer patients in palliative care. Given its effectiveness and the lack of significant side effects, OMT warrants further exploration and integration into the oncology care setting.
Conclusion:
OMT can serve as a promising supplement to conventional pain management strategies for patients in oncology and palliative care. The observed reductions in pain, analgesic use, and improved QoL warrant further studying. Expanding research to study the effects of OMT on cancer patients suffering from post-surgical pain or chronic pain may provide broader insight into the efficacy of OMT in this setting.
