Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments (OMT) are a safe therapeutic option for children and adults, with a wide range of applications. As anatomical structures in children are not yet fully developed and can be influenced more easily, OMT offers a good treatment approach for children with middle ear infections. Studies show that 90% of two-year-olds have already experienced an episode of acute otitis media (AOM). In children up to five years of age, AOM is the most common reason for a doctor’s visit. A pilot study with one-year follow-up showed that 62% of the children who received three weekly OMT treatments had no further symptoms of acute otitis media. It was also found that AOM resolves more quickly with OMT than with treatments without OMT. The so-called auditory tube (Eustachian tube / Latin: Tuba auditiva Eustachii) is a canal that connects the middle ear with the pharynx to enable pressure equalization between the two spaces. This structure is a known factor in the development of AOM. In the pharynx, it has contact with four muscles (M. tensor veli palatini, M. pterygoideus medialis, M. levator veli palatini, M. salpingopharyngeus). After passing these and the joint connections of the cranial bones, it penetrates through the temporal bone into the middle ear. Somatic dysfunctions of the temporal and sphenoid bones, as well as tension in the pharyngeal musculature, can impede drainage of the Eustachian tube as it passes through these structures and thus promote AOM. Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube can also be caused by upper respiratory tract infections, changes in altitude, allergies, a narrow Eustachian tube, and large polyps. In children, the Eustachian tube is more susceptible to reduced drainage due to its more horizontal positioning in the child’s skull. Osteopathic manipulative treatment is an effective way to address biomechanical restrictions that can lead to impaired drainage, serous otitis, and otitis media.
Summary
As anatomical structures in children are not yet fully developed and can be influenced more easily, OMT offers a good treatment approach for children with middle ear infections. A pilot study with one-year follow-up showed that 62% of the children who received three weekly OMT treatments had no further symptoms of acute otitis media. It was also found that AOM resolves more quickly with OMT than with treatments without OMT. The so-called auditory tube (Eustachian tube / Latin: Tuba auditiva Eustachii) is a canal that connects the middle ear with the pharynx to enable pressure equalization between the two spaces. This structure is a known factor in the development of AOM. Somatic dysfunctions of the temporal and sphenoid bones, as well as tension in the pharyngeal musculature, can impede drainage of the Eustachian tube as it passes through these structures and thus promote AOM. Osteopathic manipulative treatment is an effective way to address biomechanical restrictions that can lead to impaired drainage, serous otitis, and otitis media.
