Exploring How Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment May Affect Spinal Fluid Flow: An MRI Study (NCT07629765) | Clinical Trial Compass
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Exploring How Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment May Affect Spinal Fluid Flow: An MRI Study
United States30 participantsStarted 2026-06
Plain-language summary
his study aims to investigate whether Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) affects cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and glymphatic clearance in the human brain. CSF plays an important role in brain health by supporting nutrient delivery, waste removal, and pressure regulation. Aging and certain neurological conditions are associated with reduced CSF circulation and impaired brain waste clearance.
Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans before and after a 30-minute OMT session to evaluate changes in CSF flow dynamics and brain physiology. The study will also examine whether age, cognition, sleep quality, physical function, anxiety, and depression are associated with changes in CSF flow following OMT.
The study will enroll healthy adults between 18 and 80 years of age. Data collected from MRI imaging and questionnaires may help improve understanding of the physiological effects of OMT and its potential role in supporting brain health
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Healthy adults between 18 and 80 years of age
* Able and willing to provide informed consent
* Able to safely undergo MRI procedures
* Able to participate in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of severe traumatic brain injury
* Fibromyalgia
* Epilepsy
* Severe neurodegenerative disorders
* Brain tumor or brain metastasis
* Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
* Hydrocephalus
* Brain malformations
* Demyelinating disorders
* Congenital abnormalities affecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow
* Spinal stenosis
* Prior brain surgery
* Chiari malformation
* Syringomyelia
* Other spinal conditions that may disrupt CSF flow
* Manual therapy within the previous 2 weeks
* Use of medications that affect CSF flow and/or production (including carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, furosemide, thiopental, desflurane, halothane, ketamine, etc.)
* Uncontrolled hypertension
* Uncontrolled diabetes
* MRI contraindications, including implanted metallic/electronic devices or -severe claustrophobia
* Pregnancy
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Velocity Following OMT
Timeframe: Immediately before and immediately after the single OMT session during the study visit.
2
Change in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Volume Dynamics Following OMT
Timeframe: Immediately before and immediately after the single OMT session during the study visit.
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07629765
SponsorEdward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine