Reflections on osteopathic fascia treatment in the peripheral nervous system

Abstract

Bruno Bordoni,1–3 Giovanni Bordoni4 1Department of Cardiology, Santa Maria Nascente Institute IRCCS – Hospitalization and Care with Scientific Address, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, 2School TCIO Milano – Osteopathy Institute, 3Edi-Ermes, Milan, 4CRESO School, Osteopathic Centre for Research and Studies, Falconara Marittima, Ancona, Italy Abstract: The peripheral nerve is composed of several layers of fascia tissue, which can become a source of pain if the way they slide is impeded. It is only recently that fascial osteopathy research has been aimed at understanding what happens to the fascia following treatment, and as a result of previous studies, we are able to highlight some of the benefits, including a reduction in local pain and inflammation. The osteopathic approach to the fascial system of the peripheral nerve does not have a grounding in scientific research, being based instead on the clinical experience of individual operators, despite peripheral nerve palpation being used as a method to evaluate and test its function. The authors wish to encourage the initiation of new research in the fields of academic and clinical osteopathy that is aimed at quantifying the possible benefits a patient may derive from osteopathic treatment of the peripheral nerve.Keywords: pain, fascial treatment, nerve palpation