Effects of Osteopathic Manual Therapy on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Adolescents with Functional Lower Limb Postural Deviations: A Pilot Study

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Background

Adolescence is a period of rapid musculoskeletal development during which functional postural deviations may occur without structural deformity. This pilot study investigated changes in the plantar pressure distribution following osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) in adolescents with functional postural deviations. (2) Materials and Methods: Twenty adolescents aged 14-16 years (8 females and 12 males) participated in this study. Functional postural status was characterized using clinical screening and Kineod three-dimensional postural assessment, while plantar pressure outcomes were recorded using the BTS P-WALK platform under static and dynamic conditions. Participants completed 10 individualized OMT sessions over three months, consisting primarily of soft-tissue and muscle-energy techniques. (3)