Old Westbury

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CTS is a condition caused by disruption of the median nerve, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand. It can also affect motor function in severe cases. Various factors like inflammation, compression, and mechanical injury contribute to CTS, which can be seen on ultrasound imaging. This research compares osteopathic manipulative medicine OMM and wrist immobilization as treatments for mild to moderate CTS, aiming to evaluate their effects using MRI and patient-reported outcomes. Participants diagnosed with mild or moderate CTS will be randomly assigned to either an OMM group or a wrist immobilization group. The OMM group will receive weekly 30-minute osteopathic treatment sessions for six weeks, targeting the nervous system and upper extremity structures. The wrist immobilization group will use a soft Apollo Wrist Brace nightly for six weeks, designed to maintain wrist neutrality and reduce nerve compression. MRIs will be performed at the start and end of the treatment period for both groups. Throughout the study, participants will complete the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire at multiple time points baseline, three weeks, six weeks, and four weeks after treatment ends. MRIs will measure changes in the cross-sectional area of the carpal tunnel. Data will be analyzed statistically to compare the two treatments. The total study duration per participant is 10 weeks, including treatment and follow-up assessments.

This research aims to compare a new method of weight training with typical weight training to see if it causes more exercise-induced muscle damage, which may help build bigger muscles. It also explores how muscle soreness affects daily activities in young adults aged 18 to 35 who have prior resistance training experience. The study is conducted by the New York Institute of Technology and involves healthy volunteers. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups fast eccentric resistance training or slow eccentric resistance training. The study includes three lab sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. Sessions involve warm-up treadmill walking, maximal voluntary contraction tests on the chest press, and sets of eccentric lowering bench press exercises at 75% of maximum effort. After sessions two and three, participants rate muscle soreness for three days and answer questions about how the soreness affects their activities. During participation, individuals complete demographic questionnaires, muscle soreness self-assessments, and strength testing. The primary outcomes measured are muscle soreness over three days following training and changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction before and immediately after interventions. Follow-up is conducted via two email questionnaires after sessions two and three. The total commitment includes three lab visits plus follow-up assessments. Safety is monitored by excluding those with injuries or cardiovascular issues that would prevent pain-free training.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine OMM on muscle characteristics in the lower limbs of people with Parkinsons disease PD. The study focuses on measuring muscle stiffness, range of motion, and walking patterns to understand how OMM might influence these factors. Parkinsonism causes symptoms like tremor, muscle rigidity, slow movement, and balance problems, which can affect independence and daily activities. Pain and rigidity are common issues for those with PD, and OMM aims to address these by improving muscle and joint function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups an experimental group receiving Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, specifically Muscle Energy Technique MET applied to the hip, knee, and ankle muscles on both sides or a control group receiving a sham treatment involving passive joint movements without reaching joint barriers. The OMM treatment involves active muscle contractions against resistance followed by passive stretching, while the sham procedure mimics joint movements without engaging the muscles. Both sessions last about an hour. During the study visit, participants will have muscle stiffness measured with a MyotonPRO device, gait assessed while walking on a treadmill for two minutes, and range of motion measured using a goniometer before and after treatment. One week later, participants will complete a brief phone survey. Researchers will track changes in muscle mechanical stress, stiffness, walking patterns, joint flexibility, and mobility using tools like the Timed Up & Go test and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. This helps understand how OMM affects muscle quality and function in PD over a short period.

Parkinsonism, primarily caused by Parkinsons disease PD, includes symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movements, and balance difficulties. These symptoms often disrupt sleep quality, leading to challenges falling and staying asleep. Poor sleep in PD patients can lower quality of life and increase risks of other health problems and cognitive decline. This study explores whether osteopathic manipulative treatment OMT, a hands-on therapy, can improve sleep quality, cognitive function, and daily activities in people with Parkinsons disease. Participants will be divided into two groups one receiving a specific OMT protocol targeting the cranial, cervical, thoracic, and ribcage areas using established techniques, and a control group receiving a light touch procedure. The OMT techniques include suboccipital decompression, venous sinus drainage, rib raising, and other manipulations aimed at improving circulation and relaxation. The control group receives light touch treatment to compare effects. During the 5-week study, participants will wear Fitbit devices and oxygen saturation rings to objectively track sleep patterns and oxygen levels, while also completing sleep quality surveys. Cognitive function will be assessed using the Stroop task to measure executive function. Researchers will analyze heart rate variability, sleep stages, sleep duration, and oxygen saturation to evaluate treatment effects. This research aims to determine if OMT can be a helpful complementary therapy for improving sleep and cognitive health in PD patients.

Researchers are investigating whether combining osteopathic manipulative medicine OMM and phototherapy provides better pain relief for people with chronic lower back pain than either treatment alone or standard medical care. Previous studies showed that both OMM and phototherapy can help reduce chronic low back pain, but no research has yet explored the potential enhanced benefit of using both together. This study aims to evaluate this combined effect to improve patient care. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four groups continuing standard medical care, receiving OMM treatment, receiving phototherapy, or receiving both OMM and phototherapy. Osteopathic physicians treat somatic dysfunction with OMM, while phototherapy uses low-level lasers cleared by the FDA for temporary pain relief. The study compares these approaches to understand their individual and combined impact on chronic lower back pain. During the 8-week study, participants will be assessed using a 10 cm visual analog scale for pain, the SF-36 Health Survey for quality of life, and the Oswestry Back Questionnaire for qualitative pain evaluation. The researchers will monitor pain levels and quality of life to measure treatment effects. Participants will follow their assigned treatments and attend scheduled evaluations throughout the study period, which runs until December 2025.

This research aims to compare how different types of breaks affect memory and attention in medical students after a long period of studying. The study evaluates an active break involving walking or upper body movement, a digital break involving phone use, and no break at all. Tests measuring memory, executive function, and attention will be used to understand the effects of these breaks on cognitive performance. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups an active physical break group, a digital break group, or a control group with no break. After a period of studying, the active group will take a 10-minute light physical activity break, the digital group will take a 10-minute social media break, and the control group will continue studying without a break. Each group will complete cognitive tests before and after the break period, including the List Learning Task, Stroop Test, and Sustained Attention to Response Task. During the study day, participants will fill out demographic forms and complete cognitive tests before studying. After 45 minutes of study, they will take the first part of a memory test, then take their assigned break or continue studying. After the break, they will complete the second part of the memory test, followed by attention and executive function tests. Surveys will collect information on social media use and participants thoughts about their break experience. The primary outcome is sustained attention measured during the study day.

Researchers are exploring how virtual reality affects exercise intensity and enjoyment for people with Parkinsons disease who use a stationary bicycle for exercise. The study aims to answer three questions whether virtual reality increases the intensity and enjoyment compared to bicycling without it, how interval versus continuous bicycling affects the experience, and how different virtual reality delivery methods goggles or screen projection influence the experience. Participants attend two sessions where they bicycle under various conditions. In the first session, they cycle in both a semi-immersive virtual environment projected on a screen and an immersive environment using goggles, completing questionnaires after each bout. In the second session, participants cycle four times with and without virtual reality using continuous and interval modes while their oxygen consumption is measured. Questionnaires assess their experience after each exercise bout. During the study, participants undergo movement assessments and complete physical activity questionnaires. Measurements such as neuromuscular intensity, heart rate percentage of maximum, oxygen consumption, and enjoyment motivation are collected continuously during exercise bouts across both sessions. Additional assessments include perceived exertion, cyber sickness, and rankings of effort and enjoyment. Each session lasts about two hours, and the study monitors responses to different bicycling and virtual reality conditions to understand their effects on exercise for people with Parkinsons disease.