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 Parkinson's 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.

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.

This research aims to understand how virtual reality affects exercise for people with Parkinson Disease who use a bicycle for exercise. It explores whether virtual reality increases exercise intensity and enjoyment compared to bicycling without it, how interval versus continuous bicycling impacts the experience, and how different ways of delivering virtual reality (with goggles or projected on a screen) influence the experience. Participants attend two sessions involving bicycling exercises. In the first session, they bicycle in two virtual environments: one projected on a screen and one with goggles. They complete questionnaires after each bout about their experience. In the second session, participants bicycle four times with and without virtual reality using both continuous and interval modes, while their oxygen consumption is measured. Questionnaires are completed after each exercise bout. During the study, participants undergo movement assessments and complete physical activity questionnaires. Researchers measure neuromuscular intensity, oxygen consumption, heart rate percentage of maximum, and enjoyment-motivation continuously during exercise bouts. Secondary measures include perceived exertion, cyber sickness, perceived effort ranking, and enjoyment ranking collected across both sessions. Each session lasts about two hours, and the study evaluates the exercise experience and physiological responses in detail.