Effect of Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine on Visual Function

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02728713

Enrollment

113

Registered

2016-04-05

Start date

2003-08-31

Completion date

2005-11-30

Last updated

2016-04-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Visual Function

Keywords

Cranial manipulation, Visual function

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a measurable change in visual function as a direct result of the application of osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine. The study will also attempt to determine whether any changes noted remain after withdrawal of the treatment.

Interventions

PROCEDURECranial Manipulation

Performed by exaggerating the motion asymmetry with a minimum of pressure (a few ounces) and holding the position until the motion becomes symmetrical.

PROCEDURESham/Placebo

A laying on of hands with no actual treatment being performed.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 35 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* free of active ocular or systemic disease * refractive error between six diopters of myopia and five diopters of hyperopia with regular astigmatism of any amount * normal best-corrected visual acuity at 20/40 or better * normal amplitude of accommodation * willing to undergo osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine

Exclusion criteria

* pregnancy * history of previous closed head trauma or brain injury * prior cranial manipulative treatment/craniosacral therapy * students from the Nova Southeastern University Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Optometry

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Distance Visual Acuity	Weekly for 16 weeks	Measurement of visual acuity in each eye by number of letters read correctly on ETDRS chart.
Accommodative System Testing	Weekly for 16 weeks	Accommodative amplitude testing using a Donder push-up card.
Local Stereoacuity Testing	Weekly for 16 weeks	Measured by Random Dot E test.
Pupillary Size Testing	Weekly for 16 weeks	Measurement of pupil size (each eye) in bright and dim light.
Vergence System Testing	Weekly for 16 weeks	Assessed by Cover Test with Prism Neutralization and Near Point of Convergence

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026