ImmunoBoost: The Lymphatic Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Protocol Study

This clinical trial is a follow-up on a recent trial demonstrating an enhanced immune response in participants who received lymphatic osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) with each of their COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations. Similar immune enhancement was observed in a pilot study with OMT in conjunction with the Hepatitis B vaccine. Additionally, animal studies have shown that lymphatic pump OMT can cause transient increases in the movement of lymphatic fluid, immune cells, and signaling molecules throughout the body and bloodstream. These findings were further supported by in vitro studies on fibroblasts, where OMT led to significant increases in circulating cytokines. There are studies that suggest that combining physical exercise with vaccination can also improve immune responses. To parse out these effects observed in OMT and exercise studies and provide the mechanisms underlying the observed immune enhancements, this clinical trial will be conducted.

This study is designed as a crossover, self-controlled, comparative effectiveness randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 healthy individuals who meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria will be recruited. Participants will then fill out a health questionnaire during the screening process to confirm their eligibility.

Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention sequences to maintain blinding and control for order and sequencing effects. The intervention sequences are as follows:

• Order 1: Day 0: OMT, Week 3: Sham, Week 6: Exercise
• Order 2: Day 0: Sham, Week 3: OMT, Week 6: Exercise
• Order 3: Day 0: Exercise, Week 3: OMT, Week 6: Sham

There will be a 3-week washout period between each intervention. Participants will complete the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) survey to identify their current level of exercise at each visit. They will also be monitored for any adverse effects following each intervention.

All treatment protocols will be done for a 12-minute timeframe per session. Participants will have three blood draws at each visit: at baseline, five minutes after intervention, and four hours after intervention. The primary outcome measures will include cytokine levels and circulating leukocyte levels, which will be compared across the different intervention sequences.

This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism by which lymphatic OMT alters the immune system. It will also compare these effects to the mechanisms of exercise.

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals must be 18 years or older.
• Individuals must provide informed consent.
• Individuals must be healthy with a BMI under 30, with no primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease/must not be immunocompromised.
• Individuals must not be using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus
• Individuals must not have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment.
• Individuals must have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques.
• Individuals must be able to tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity.
• Individuals must not be pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Individuals must not have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months.
• Individuals must be infection-free for the past 6 weeks before starting the study and have not received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks.
• Individuals must be willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit.
• Individuals must be willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals are younger than 18 years of age.
• Individuals who do not provide informed consent.
• Individuals with a BMI over 30, or with primary or secondary immune deficiency or autoimmune disease or is immunocompromised.
• Individuals using or recently have used any immune-altering medications such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, and pimecrolimus
• Individuals who have had lymphatic OMT or other physical manipulation such as acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy in the previous four weeks before study enrollment.
• Individuals who don't have the ability to receive OMT with lymphatic techniques.
• Individuals who cannot tolerate 12 minutes of moderate physical activity.
• Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Individuals who have had a splenectomy or other spleen or oncologic surgery within the past 6 months.
• Individuals who have had an infection in the 6 weeks before starting the study and or have received any immunizations within the past 6 weeks.
• Individuals not willing to avoid strenuous activity at least 24 hours before each visit.
• Individuals not willing to abstain from moderate to intense activity in the 4 hours between their 2nd blood draw and their final blood draw at each of their three visits.