Research Spotlight: Exploring OMT as a Treatment for Anxiety
Student Researcher Kelsey Lacy and her team take their clinical trial to a national stage.
Student Doctor Kelsey Lacy, OMS-III, and her fellow Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine students aimed to design a research project focused on Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a treatment that is affordable, accessible, and non-pharmacologic. After learning about the need for more research on using OMT to treat anxiety, the students decided their project would explore whether OMT could effectively reduce anxiety.
The Study
The team carried out a clinical trial with 32 participants, divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment plan aimed to balance the autonomic nervous system and included cervical kneading, suboccipital release, rib raising, and compression of the fourth ventricle. The control group rested in the supine position for ten minutes. Treatments were administered weekly for six weeks.
Outcomes were measured both physiologically — tracking blood pressure, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure — and subjectively using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) survey. While the study did not find statistically significant between-group differences in physiologic measures, the treatment group showed a steady, sustained decline in patient-reported anxiety symptoms (as measured by GAD-7) across the six-week period. Notably, a reduction in anxiety symptoms persisted for a full week after treatments concluded.
A Team Effort
Kelsey is quick to point out that this was far from a solo endeavor. The research team includes co-primary author Hannah Weidman, OMS-III, MS; Annie Boesiger, OMS-III, MEd, MS; Akram Hejazi, OMS-III, MS; Allison Kordik, OMS-II; Katherine McDermott, OMS-III, MS; Priyadharshine Ramesh Babu, OMS-III; Clare Ubersax, OMS-II; and faculty advisors Samuel Hager, DO, Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, and Christopher LaFontano, DO, Assistant Dean of Osteopathic Integration and Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice.
“This was a team effort, and I was so happy and grateful to work with the most amazing crew,” Lacy said.
Presenting at the AAO Convocation
Kelsey presented the team’s findings at the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) Convocation, held this year at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. This annual event focuses on the education and professional development of osteopathic physicians. This year’s conference, “Mastering Technique, Precision, and Perception,” was designed to address the changing needs of practicing osteopathic physicians by focusing on sharpening osteopathic skills through practical, clinically relevant education. By emphasizing the link between hands-on expertise and success in real-world practice, the conference provides valuable insights for physicians currently in private practice, those aiming to start or expand their own practices, and students and residents seeking inspiration and guidance.
“This is the mecca for doctors, residents, and medical students that use OMT in their clinical practice,” Lacy explained, “so it seemed like the perfect way to present our OMT-centered research.”
Kelsey, an AAO member, believes she was the only RVU student in attendance, making the presentation an especially meaningful milestone for the university.
Why Research Matters
For Kelsey, engaging in research is inseparable from the identity of a future DO. “As osteopathic medical students and future DO, it’s important to contribute to the field of osteopathy and to stay up to date on current best practices,” she said. “Keeping a pulse on what is happening allows us to feel comfortable practicing OMT in the field.”
She also offered a heartfelt thanks to faculty mentors Dr. LaFontano and Dr. Hager, who supported the team throughout the project and over three years of OMT labs. “You are both very inspiring in the way you patiently teach, lead, and care for patients,” she said.
Research Opportunities for RVU Students
Student research and scholarly activity are a vital part of the hands-on, real-world medical education experience that RVU emphasizes in our culture and curricula.
16 percent of the student body at RVU has published or presented research, with 283 total publications and presentations overall in Academic Year 2023-2024.
Learn more about what research opportunities are available at RVU by checking out our Office of Research and Scholarly Activity.