A qualitative study of osteopaths’ beliefs about pain management for patients with symptomatic endometriosis
Item
- Title
- A qualitative study of osteopaths’ beliefs about pain management for patients with symptomatic endometriosis
- Title
- A qualitative study of osteopaths’ beliefs about pain management for patients with symptomatic endometriosis
- Author(s)
- Callan Nuala
- Abstract
- Background: Two million UK females of reproductive age live with endometriosis (NHS, 2010). Current research fails to identify definitively the onset, aetiology or progression of endometriosis, hence no cure has been found. This condition commonly presents to osteopaths as pain (Stone, 2007) but there is limited research regarding how osteopathic treatment may help patients living with symptomatic endometriosis (Tettambel, 2005). Objectives: The study explored osteopaths’ beliefs and experiences of treating patients with symptomatic endometriosis to identify whether patients appear to benefit from osteopathic treatment. Method: Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of osteopaths Interviews were analysed using content analysis consistent with elements of grounded theory. Results: Eight main themes emerged; osteopaths’ interests, sites of pain, types of pain, aims of treatment, osteopathic techniques used, treatment thought to reduce symptoms/increase symptoms and contraindications. Conclusions: This sample of osteopaths believed endometriosis was oestrogen dependent. The 1-4 grading of endometriosis was crucial to understand the effect of osteopathic treatment. It was concluded that osteopathic treatment in grade 1-2 endometriosis could help to reduce symptoms but 3-4 required Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) inhibition or surgical intervention.
- Abstract
- Background: Two million UK females of reproductive age live with endometriosis (NHS, 2010). Current research fails to identify definitively the onset, aetiology or progression of endometriosis, hence no cure has been found. This condition commonly presents to osteopaths as pain (Stone, 2007) but there is limited research regarding how osteopathic treatment may help patients living with symptomatic endometriosis (Tettambel, 2005). Objectives: The study explored osteopaths’ beliefs and experiences of treating patients with symptomatic endometriosis to identify whether patients appear to benefit from osteopathic treatment. Method: Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of osteopaths Interviews were analysed using content analysis consistent with elements of grounded theory. Results: Eight main themes emerged; osteopaths’ interests, sites of pain, types of pain, aims of treatment, osteopathic techniques used, treatment thought to reduce symptoms/increase symptoms and contraindications. Conclusions: This sample of osteopaths believed endometriosis was oestrogen dependent. The 1-4 grading of endometriosis was crucial to understand the effect of osteopathic treatment. It was concluded that osteopathic treatment in grade 1-2 endometriosis could help to reduce symptoms but 3-4 required Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) inhibition or surgical intervention.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15042
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Endometriosis, Endometriosis Treatment, Osteopathic Treatment of Endometriosis, Endometriosis and Pain Management
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Callan Nuala, “A qualitative study of osteopaths’ beliefs about pain management for patients with symptomatic endometriosis”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1794