This case report seeks to evaluate the effects of an osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) management and the advantages of optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) for the quantification and description of asymmetrical chest wall motions associated with quality of life in a mild scoliosis patient (Cobb angle <30°). A 72-year-old woman diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis received three OMT associated with respiratory exercises in between treatment sessions. Respiratory kinematics and volumes were measured before and after each OMT session using OEP. Subjective patient's quality of life was estimated by completion of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) before the first and after the third interventions. The OEP method assessed an asymmetrical motion of the pulmonary rib cage (RCP) and abdominal rib cage (RCA) between the left and right sides. This chest wall asymmetry seemed to be associated with the direction of the scoliosis deformity. The RCP and RCA asymmetry scores decreased gradually, approaching 0 % after OMT sessions, and their variability also decreased by the end of the protocol. Conversely, quality of life increased for all eight items evaluated, indicating positive effect of OMT in the management of this scoliosis patient who experienced chronic back pains. Results from this single case study bring a promising method to evaluate non pharmacological intervention such as OMT in the management of idiopathic scoliosis patients. OEP is an effective method to evaluate breathing patterns in scoliosis patients and can detect respiratory asymmetries that could not have been objectified by any other method.

Background: Optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) is a non-invasive technique that can be used to assess both respiratory volumes and chest wall kinematics. An interpolation surface method (ISM) has been recently developed to enhance OEP kinematic analysis. The aim of this study was to test whether ISM is as accurate as the conventional method (CM) for volume measurement when compared with conventional spirometry. Methods: Pneumotachographs and OEP were recorded simultaneously on a healthy subject who performed quiet and deep breathing. Results: In total, 124 tidal volumes (TV) and 50 vital capacities (VC) were obtained. ISM introduced a lower bias for both TV and VC, with narrower limits of agreement for CM in both conditions. Mean discrepancies were systematically <2.15%. Correlation coefficients were in the interval [0.978; 0.991], with an ICC in the interval [0.968; 0.991] for both TV and VC. Conclusions: ISM and CM have similar volume measurement accuracies. ISM preserves the accuracy of OEP volume measurements and its software environment. Although ISM represents a promising approach for breathing motion analysis, its contribution to improving kinematic analysis remains to be evaluated across a broader range of morphologies and breathing patterns.

Introduction: The Morel-Lavallee lesion (MLL) is a closed, degloving soft-tissue injury, wherein the skin and subcutaneous tissue are separated from the underlying fascia. This syndrome causes disruption of wound healing. Infrared thermography is a noninvasive and pain-free tool that can be used to evaluate scar and the influence of osteopathic manipulative treatment. Objective: To evaluate the influence of post-operative osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) of MorelLavallee lesions (MLL). Methods: During four osteopathic sessions on one volunteer patient, 28-year-old male, resulting in MLL of the left knee after motorcycle accident. The effects of OMT were assessed using an infrared thermal imaging camera and qualitative palpation examination of osteopathic dysfunction, scored on a scale of 1-4. Results: and discussion: Both scar and peri-scar area temperatures increased after OMT. The difference in temperature between the scar and the peri-scar area decreased after OMT. Increase in temperature was greater when the OMT was applied around the scar than when applied at a distance from the scar site. The palpation score for dysfunction of the MLL scar site decreased from 4/4 to 2/4 after the final session. Conclusion: Several OMT sessions focusing on the MLL scar site appear necessary to obtain noteworthy results. OMT improved mobility and increased the temperature of the scar and the peri-scar area.