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WesternU researchers show Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment improves efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine

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POMONA, Calif., Sept. 15, 2025 ~ A recent study conducted by researchers from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and their colleagues has found that Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) can enhance immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination.

The study, published in Virus Research, involved 104 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either a brief, five-minute lymphatic OMT protocol immediately after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and the day after each dose, or usual care. The primary analysis was conducted on 51 participants who had not previously been infected with COVID-19.

The results showed that those who received OMT had higher levels of antibodies at three weeks and a greater overall antibody response through 13 weeks compared to those who received usual care. This was especially true for participants without a prior COVID-19 infection.

In addition, for those who did contract COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, the group that received OMT reported faster recovery times and less severe symptoms. On average, they experienced a shorter illness duration of 4.5 days compared to 8 days for those who did not receive OMT. They also used medication for fewer days (an average of 1.5 days versus 5 days).

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"This study shows that there are ways we might be able to improve the response to a vaccination which could lead to better outcomes for patients," said COMP Professor and Chief Medical Officer of WesternU Health Medical Center Brian Loveless, DO '02, one of the co-authors of the study. "For physicians, this means that a simple intervention like OMT could potentially give their patients an improved response and better protection against infections."

The study's citation is Eric S. Martinez et al.'s "COVID-19 mRNA vaccine immune response to the addition of osteopathic manipulative treatment with lymphatic pumps: a randomized controlled trial" published in Virus Research in 2025.

The authors note that this was a pilot study and recommend larger, multi-center studies to confirm the generalizability of their findings. The study brought together physicians and scientists with backgrounds in osteopathic medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, and biostatistics.

"This was an exciting finding for me as a non-DO because I was able to support the DO philosophy and observations by creating a solid scientific protocol to demonstrate the verifiability of their claims," said COMP Associate Professor and co-first author of the study Sébastien Fuchs, MD, PhD. "The results show that OMT manipulation at the time of vaccination can improve its efficacy and protection against diseases. This is particularly important in improving population immunity."

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The American Osteopathic Association President Robert Piccinini, DO, D.FACN also commented on the study's findings, stating that "OMT is a powerful, non-invasive intervention that can strengthen the body's immune response while promoting wellness and balance." He added that this research highlights the significance of OMT as a complementary treatment option for patients.

The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) also expressed their support for this study as one of its lead funders. AOF CEO Rita Forden stated that supporting scholarly research is a core priority for their organization and this study reflects the values of osteopathic medicine in promoting patient-centered care.

In conclusion, this groundbreaking study has shown that OMT can enhance immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination and potentially improve outcomes for patients. Further research is needed to confirm these findings on a larger scale.
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