"The Dark Side of Musculoskeletal Care": Why Do Ineffective Techniques Seem to Work? A Comprehensive Review of Complementary and Alternative Therapies.

The increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) for musculoskeletal care has sparked significant debate, particularly regarding their biological plausibility and clinical effectiveness. This comprehensive review critically examines the use of two of the most widely utilized CAMs-osteopathy and chiropractic care-over the past 25 years, focusing on their biological plausibility, clinical effectiveness, and potential mechanisms of action. Our analysis of current research and clinical studies reveals that osteopathy and chiropractic are based on concepts such as "somatic dysfunction" and "vertebral subluxation", which lack robust empirical validation.

Clinical Effectiveness of Craniosacral Therapy in Patients with Headache Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objectives: To analyze the effectiveness of craniosacral therapy in improving pain and disability among patients with headache disorders.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Osteopathic Medicine Digital Library databases were searched in March 2023.