Cranial osteopathy: its fate seems clear
2006
Cranial Osteopathy: Its Fate Seems Clear
publication
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): Steve E Hartman
Primary Institution: University of New England
Hypothesis
Does cranial osteopathy have any direct clinical effect on patient health?
Conclusion
Cranial osteopathy lacks scientific evidence of efficacy and should be removed from academic curricula and insurance coverage.
Supporting Evidence
- Cranial osteopathy lacks a biologically plausible mechanism.
- There is no diagnostic reliability in cranial osteopathy.
- Practitioners have not provided scientific evidence of therapeutic effects.
- Many practitioners continue to use cranial osteopathy despite negative research findings.
Takeaway
Cranial osteopathy is a treatment that many believe helps, but there is no real proof that it works, so it might be better to look for other treatments.
Potential Biases
Practitioners may be biased due to personal beliefs and anecdotal successes.
Limitations
No successful, properly controlled outcome analyses have been published.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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