Osteopathic research: the needed paradigm shift.

The purposes of this article are twofold: (1) To assist scientists on the faculties of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the design of research projects relevant to osteopathic medical theory and practice; and (2) to assist clinical investigators in the development of research protocols that are best suited to the assessment of clinical outcomes of osteopathic medical practice. Toward this end, the central osteopathic medical principles are heuristically interpreted and elaborated, with the intention of facilitating the formulation of fundamental questions by researchers in the various biomedical disciplines and the design of clinical research projects by osteopathic physicians. A few of the questions evoked by such elaboration of the osteopathic medical principles and awaiting study are suggested for consideration by researchers.