Table 4.
Intervention characteristics
| Characteristics | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Techniquesa | |
| Musculoskeletal techniques | |
| Myofascial release | 164 (42.2) |
| Muscle energy | 127 (32.6) |
| High velocity low amplitude (HVLA) | 118 (30.3) |
| Soft tissue | 99 (25.4) |
| Strain counterstrain | 75 (19.3) |
| Balanced ligamentous tension (BLT) | 68 (17.5) |
| Mobilization | 59 (15.2) |
| Articulatory | 58 (14.9) |
| Diaphragm release | 51 (13.1) |
| Rib raising | 29 (7.5) |
| Facilitated positional release | 29 (7.5) |
| Muscle inhibition | 28 (7.2) |
| Still technique | 16 (4.1) |
| Trigger points | 8 (2.1) |
| General osteopathic treatment (GOT) | 4 (1.0) |
| Spencer technique | 3 (0.8) |
| Cranial techniques | |
| Suboccipital decompression | 55 (14.1) |
| Cranial – nonspecific | 47 (12.1) |
| Cranio-sacral and cranio-sacral therapy | 35 (9.0) |
| Balanced membranous tension (BMT) | 32 (8.2) |
| Compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4) | 31 (8.0) |
| Sutural techniques | 23 (5.9) |
| Sacral rocking, release or decompression | 22 (5.7) |
| Spheno-basilar synchondrosis decompression | 18 (4.6) |
| Mobilization temporal | 16 (4.1) |
| Parietal and frontal lift | 14 (3.6) |
| Dural tube traction | 9 (2.3) |
| V-Spread | 9 (2.3) |
| Venous sinus drainage | 7 (1.8) |
| Eustachian tube drainage | 5 (1.3) |
| Visceral techniques | |
| Lymphatic | 37 (9.5) |
| Organ mobilization | 34 (8.7) |
| Visceral fascial release | 24 (6.2) |
| Visceral – nonspecific | 19 (4.9) |
| Plexus techniques (mesenteric and coeliac plexus) | 5 (1.3) |
| Chapman points | 4 (1.0) |
| Recoil | 2 (0.5) |
| Viscero-somatic reflex | 1 (0.3) |
| Osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT) | 9 (2.3) |
| Non-classified techniques | 5 (1.3) |
| Body part/system targeted by the intervention | |
| Vertebral | 139 (35.8) |
| Cervical | 51 (13.1) |
| Lumbar | 36 (9.3) |
| Dorsal | 26 (6.7) |
| Pelvis | 25 (6.4) |
| All spine | 1 (0.3) |
| Thoracic, abdominal and pelvic visceral tissues | 95 (24.4) |
| Cardiorespiratory | 33 (8.5) |
| Digestive | 34 (8.7) |
| Urinary/gynecological | 16 (4.1) |
| Lymphatic | 12 (3.1) |
| Musculoskeletal other than vertebral | 74 (19.0) |
| Upper body | 27 (6.9) |
| Lower body | 30 (7.7) |
| Not specified or general | 17 (4.4) |
| Cranium or craniosacral | 62 (15.9) |
| Cannot assess | 13 (3.3) |
| Stress and mental health | 6 (1.5) |
aNumber of studies using this technique, many techniques might be used in a same study