Tinnitus and osteopathy

Name of treatment	Osteopathy
Type of treatment	Complementary therapy
Claims for treatment	Reduces/eliminates the tinnitus percept
How treatment is delivered	Manual manipulation
Potential negative consequences	Cost; Generally regarded as safe [1]
Evidence offered
Papers available	~ 20 in PubMed (1948 – 2012)
Conclusions drawn	The very limited evidence does not demonstrate that osteopathy offers a significant improvement in tinnitus distress.
Quality of evidence [2]	E
Does the BTA recommend this treatment?	No
BTA opinion on this treatment	Although independent evidence is very limited, what there is does not show that osteopathy is effective for tinnitus. Further research is required.
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment?	Yes, if high quality study
Verdict: Efficacy. Does this treatment work?	No evidence of effect
Verdict: Safety. Is this treatment harmful?	Regarded as safe

[1] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/osteopathy/Pages/safety.aspx

[2] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands

Download this information:

Tinnitus_and_osteopathy_Feb_2019.pdf

Updated 5 February 2019

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