Clinical trials

This pilot study will span two months per participant and include a baseline evaluation, a control period, the treatment itself, and an after-treatment evaluation. After getting informed consent, participants will be asked to fill out surveys about their menstrual cycles and health histories, including pain levels, timing, and the types and length of symptoms they may have. Participants will then go through a month control period where they will have their cycle without any osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) being given, followed by a standard osteopathic exam. They will be asked to fill out all surveys again at this time. They will then go through OMT 3-7 days before their next period. After their second cycle, they will complete a final survey. Participants' pain and symptoms will be assessed at each time point by comparing survey responses and checking for improvement. The goal of this study is to see whether osteopathic manipulative treatment reduces pain and eases symptoms, and whether this approach is practical for future studies.

Neck pain and reduced cervical range of motion (ROM) are common musculoskeletal concerns that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and daily routine. This is especially true for medical students who spend a disproportionate amount of time on their computers or mobile devices, as is required by their long study hours. A simple stretching routine is often recommended by physicians and physical therapists alike, but there is little research examining short-term changes in cervical range of motion (ROM) and pain when a brief, structured daily stretching program is used. The goal of this single-group study is to test feasibility and determine how well a daily cervical stretching regimen affects cervical ROM and self-reported pain in osteopathic medical students with cervical ROM restrictions. Researchers will measure changes in cervical ROM using a goniometer and changes in pain levels via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Participants will be asked to complete a 7-day period of no stretching, during which natural measurements will be taken, followed by 7 days of completing the 5-minute stretching routine, after which more measurements will be taken. Participants will also be asked to complete a post-study survey and a 1-month follow-up survey to provide feedback on the study and the stretching routine.