Testing Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment to Restore Sense of Smell in Adults After COVID-19 Infection

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 participants 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.

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