Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID06766279

Investigating the Efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment to Recover Olfactory Perception After COVID-19

Led by Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine · Updated on 2025-01-09

32

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can help adults who lost their sense of smell due to COVID-19 recover their olfactory perception. Loss of smell is a common symptom of COVID-19 that can lower quality of life and pose safety risks. The study also seeks to understand how long any improvement in smell lasts after treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either OMT or a sham treatment. OMT involves two specific procedures: occipitoatlantal decompression using 12N of pressure for 2 minutes, and treatment of the nasal Chapman points while lying down. The sham treatment involves the investigator resting their hands gently on the sides of the participant's neck for 5 minutes. The study includes initial smell testing before and after treatment, as well as follow-up tests the next day and within 1 to 2 weeks. During the study, participants will undergo smell tests using the validated "Sniffin' Sticks" protocol in a well-ventilated area. Testing occurs before treatment, immediately after, daily for up to 10 days, and at follow-up visits. Researchers will monitor changes in smell ability and assess the duration of any improvements. Safety and adherence are observed throughout, with participants wearing masks during evaluations. The total participation spans from enrollment until two weeks post-treatment to measure recovery of smell.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Investigating the Efficacy of OMT to Recover Olfactory Perception After COVID-19

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis
  • Self-reported deficiency in sense of smell
  • Age 18 years or older
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Age under 18 years
  • Pregnancy
  • Any osteopathic screening findings that increase risk or reduce effectiveness of OA decompression
  • Use of medications that affect sense of smell (intranasal zinc, intranasal antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids)
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Use of oral corticosteroids or antihistamines

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 screening and enrollment visit (in-person)

Treatment

Duration - Single day

Participants receive either osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) or a sham intervention. The OMT includes occipitoatlantal decompression and treatment of the nasal Chapman point. The sham treatment involves a gentle resting of the investigator's hands on the subject's neck. Olfactory testing is done before and after the intervention to assess sense of smell.

1 treatment visit with pre- and post-intervention olfactory testing (in-person)

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 2 weeks

Participants return for daily olfactory testing for up to 10 days to monitor the effect of the treatment or spontaneous recovery. Additional follow-up visits occur within 1 to 2 weeks after treatment to assess ongoing olfactory recovery.

Daily visits for up to 10 days and 1 final visit within 1 to 2 weeks post treatment (in-person)

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, 88001

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

T

Thomas P Eiting, Ph.D

A

Adrienne Kania, D.O.

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

NONE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Activation of the cholinergic antiinflammatory reflex by occipitoatlantal decompression and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation.

Adrienne M Kania, Kailee N Weiler, Angeline P Kurian...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33694358

'Sniffin' sticks': olfactory performance assessed by the combined testing of odor identification, odor discrimination and olfactory threshold.

T Hummel, B Sekinger, S R Wolf...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9056084

Budesonide irrigation with olfactory training improves outcomes compared with olfactory training alone in patients with olfactory loss.

Teresa P Nguyen, Zara M Patel

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29901865

Olfactory identification testing as a predictor of the development of Alzheimer's dementia: a systematic review.

Gordon H Sun, Cyrus A Raji, Mark P Maceachern...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22552846