ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00873171Updated Aug 20, 2026

Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

An observational study in Interstitial Cystitis, sponsored by CAMC Health System. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-20.

Sponsored by CAMC Health System · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
24
Ages
18 Years to 90 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

As a safe and noninvasive method of treatment, the intent of the study is to show that Osteopathic manipulation therapy is a beneficial treatment for the aggravating bladder symptoms seen in all patients with interstitial cystitis.

Read the detailed description

The management of interstitial cystitis is predominantly based on the reduction of the symptoms of frequency, urgency, and pain.In addition to Osteopathic manipulation Other conservative treatments frequently include dietary modification, pharmaceuticals, bladder training, neuromodulation, and stress reduction. The goal of Osteopathic manipulation is to relax the pelvic muscles used by the bladder and improve the flow of blood and lymph fluid to this region, which may result in easing pain and discomfort associated with cystitis.Some physicians have found that Osteopathic Manipulation works for some people as an alternative to surgery. A secondary objective will be to determine if the increased attention and power of touch are as effective as OMT in treating patients with interstitial cystitis based on the results of using attention control treatment in some patients.Thus, this is a pilot study comparing OMT to an attention control arm and standard of care arm of treatment.We will review palpatory visceromatic reflex changes as documented by tissue texture changes, asymmetry, restriction of motion and tenderness pre and post treatment.Physical examination including detailed musculoskeletal examination of the lumbosacral region will be performed pre and post and then compared the results.

02

Conditions studied

  • Interstitial Cystitis

Keywords

  • Osteopathic Manipulation
03

In context

Cystitis, Interstitial

236 studies on the registry are indexed under Cystitis, Interstitial; 35 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 24 is below the median of 100 across 63 observational studies indexed under Cystitis, Interstitial.

Browse Cystitis, Interstitial studies →

Lead sponsor

CAMC Health System is the lead sponsor of 47 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (40%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

A sample of 60 patients that have a confirmed diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis as patients of Urological Surgical Associates and Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) based on current diagnostic recommendations. The patients will be selected based on their clinical history of interstitial cystitis.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • The criteria for treatment is that the patient must exhibit symptoms of IC for at least one year and have a known diagnosis based on history and clinical findings including glomerulations of the bladder wall seen on cystoscopic examination.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who are not eligible are those who have to OMT such as to palpation, indurations or mass/tumor, adenopathy, cancer, or local infection
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

05

Study design

Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
24 participants (actual)

Groups and cohorts

  • 1. OMT

    This procedure consist of Sacral rocking is performed by placing the heel of the practitioner's hand over the sacrum and by using the palpatory skills of an osteopathic physician; rock the sacrum into a position with no restriction. Myofascial release will utilize various physical motions to place the patients lumbosacral region in a position of maximal comfort and tissue release.

  • 2. Attention control OMT

    The procedure consist of light pressure applied to certain painful areas of the body and back to decrease pain and help patient relax. The physician will look for areas of the body that hurt, lay his/her hands on the those places, and apply light pressure.

  • 3. Standard of Care

    This procedure consists of various conservative treatments that can help reduce stress. Those include dietary modifications, pharmaceuticals, bladder training, and neuromodulation. If these treatments are not successful, minimally invasive surgical procedures is performed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manipulation therapy over standard of care invasive procedures for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

    Time frame: Within 2 weeks of treatment

Secondary outcomes

  1. To determine if the increased attention and power of touch are as effective as OMT in treating patients with IC based on the results of using attention control treatment in some patients.

    Time frame: Within 2 weeks of treatment

07

Study locations

1 site
  • James P. Tierney D.O.
    Charleston, West Virginia 25304, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 20, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00873171
Lead sponsor
CAMC Health System
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 1, 2009
Start date
Jan 2009
Primary completion
Nov 2009
Completion
Nov 2009
Last update
Aug 20, 2026

Study contacts

James P Tierney, D.O.
principal investigator · CAMC Medical Staff - with admitting privileges

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2010. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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