The Emerging Role of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in Enhancing Quality of Life for Palliative and End-of-Life Patients: A Narrative Review

TL;DR

This review explores how osteopathic manipulative medicine may improve quality of life for patients in palliative and end-of-life care.

Contribution

The paper synthesizes emerging evidence on OMM's role in managing multiple symptoms in palliative care.

Findings

OMM techniques like myofascial release may improve comfort and emotional well-being in end-of-life patients.

Current evidence suggests OMM could help manage pain, respiratory distress, and psychological stress.

The review highlights the need for more rigorous studies to confirm OMM's effectiveness in this context.

Abstract

Palliative and end-of-life care aim to minimize suffering and optimize the quality of life for individuals nearing the end of their lives. Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) represents a potentially valuable nonpharmacological approach within this integrative care framework. Emerging evidence from clinical observations, small-scale studies, and foundational osteopathic principles suggests that OMM may help support patient comfort, alleviate certain symptoms, and contribute to dignity in care. Techniques such as myofascial release, cranial manipulation, and lymphatic drainage have been reported to improve comfort and emotional well-being; however, these findings are based primarily on limited and heterogeneous studies. This narrative review synthesizes current clinical evidence on the application of OMM in palliative and end-of-life care, focusing on its potential to manage multiple distressing symptoms, including pain, respiratory distress, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, edema, and psychological stress. The review aims to provide an integrative understanding of OMM’s role in symptom management, identify evidence gaps, and propose directions for future research.