ImmunoBoost: The Lymphatic Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Protocol Study

Launched by WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES · Aug 19, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The ImmunoBoost study is looking at whether a type of hands-on treatment called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can help strengthen the immune system in healthy adults. Researchers want to compare the effects of OMT with a light touch that doesn't provide any real treatment (called sham light treatment) and with exercise. By taking blood samples from participants at different times, the study will measure changes in immune cells and substances in the blood that help the immune system respond to threats.

To take part in this study, participants need to be at least 18 years old, healthy, and have a body mass index (BMI) under 30. They should not have any immune-related health issues or have used certain medications recently that affect the immune system. Over three visits, each participant will experience a 15-minute session of OMT, sham light treatment, and exercise, in a random order. They will also complete a survey about their physical activity and have blood drawn at each visit to check their immune response. It's important for participants to avoid vigorous activities before their appointments to ensure accurate results.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals must be 18 years or older.
• • Individuals must provide informed consent.
• • Individuals must be healthy with a BMI under 30, with no primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease/must not be immunocompromised.
• • Individuals must not be using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus
• • Individuals must not have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment.
• • Individuals must have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques.
• • Individuals must be able to tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity.
• • Individuals must not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
• • Individuals must not have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months.
• • Individuals must be infection-free for the past 6 weeks before starting the study and have not received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks.
• • Individuals must be willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit.
• • Individuals must be willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals are younger than 18 years of age.
• • Individuals who do not provide informed consent.
• • Individuals with a BMI over 30, or with primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease or is immunocompromised.
• • Individuals using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus
• • Individuals who have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment.
• • Individuals who don't have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques.
• • Individuals who cannot tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity.
• • Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• • Individuals who have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months.
• • Individuals who have had an infection in the 6 weeks before starting the study and or have received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks.
• • Individuals not willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit.
• • Individuals not willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits.