THERMOGRAPHIC SKIN MEASUREMENT AND OSTEOPATHIC PALPATION OF TIBIAL INTRAOSSEOUS STRAINS IN ADULTS - A COMPARATIVE PILOT STUDY

Item

Title
THERMOGRAPHIC SKIN MEASUREMENT AND OSTEOPATHIC PALPATION OF TIBIAL INTRAOSSEOUS STRAINS IN ADULTS - A COMPARATIVE PILOT STUDY
Abstract




The purpose of this study was to assess thermography as a viable assessment tool to identify IOS in the tibial bone, and to establish a correlation between thermography and osteopathic palpation.
This quantitative, single-blinded observational study wanted to ascertain if it is possible to detect IOS of the tibial bone in adults by comparing thermal patterns of the overlying skin of the anterior tibia. Furthermore, it wanted to show statistically significant relations between specific osteopathic manual palpation parameters, age of the IOS and thermal information. This study used a sample size of of N=86 (20 affected tibias in the case group (leg A), 20 unaffected tibias in the case group (leg B), and 46 tibias in the control group (C&D)) which gave statistically significant data through cross-tables and other statistical calculations. Strict inclusion and exclusion parameters in both sample groups (case and control group) were defined to ensure valid thermal image material.
Firstly, all subjects would fill out a questionnaire which supplies information on the individual, the symptoms at present time and the history of any traumatic incidents with possible date ranges. Secondly, a standardized thermal image of the anterior surface of the tibias was taken in compliance with international standards in medical thermography. Thirdly, the blinded examiner, the author of this thesis, performed a predefined and standardized osteopathic palpation procedure to locate and classify any existing intraosseous strains. Palpatory parameters such as rigidity of the bone and expression of local vitality were assessed and categorized. Lastly, the given data was processed and analyzed by a statistician.
Hypotheses 1b, 2 and 3 were statistically confirmed and they showed that the more rigid an IOS is, the colder its overlying skin temperature. Furthermore, an IOS affected region is generally colder than an IOS-unaffected region.








These results indicate that


thermal patterns correlate with osteopathic palpation;


it is possible to localize IOS with thermography;


an IOS negatively affects its overlying skin temperature.


Hypothesis 1a, 4 and 5 were rejected, the given data could not confirm any significant correlation between vitality and age of an IOS in relation to its rigidity.



presented at
Swiss School of Osteopathy
Date Accepted
2013
Date Submitted
24.3.2013 08:51:33
Type
osteo_thesis
Language
English
Number of pages
174
Submitted by:
137
Pub-Identifier
15308
Inst-Identifier
1102
Keywords
intraosseous, strain, lesion, thermography, thermal, skin temperature, rigidity, vitality, age, bone, osteopathic palpation
Recommended
1
Medium
EdwardMuntinga_Thesis_2013_FINAL.pdf
Item sets
Thesis
Media
EdwardMuntinga_Thesis_2013_FINAL.pdf

“THERMOGRAPHIC SKIN MEASUREMENT AND OSTEOPATHIC PALPATION OF TIBIAL INTRAOSSEOUS STRAINS IN ADULTS - A COMPARATIVE PILOT STUDY”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1716