How safe is OMT anyways?

In short, research shows that Osteopathic Manipulation is extremely safe.

In more than 15 controlled trials of manipulation, there were no adverse effects from manipulation. A review of 128 articles published between 1925 and 1993 revealed that there were only 185 specific cases of major complications out of millions of manipulative treatments. Approximately 66% were cerebrovascular accidents, 12% disk herniations, 8% pathologic fractures or dislocations, and 3% general increase in pain. Of these, only 2 cases involved osteopathic physicians. Ladermann reviewed the world literature and discovered only 135 case reports of serious complications from manipulation. Most involved chiropractic cervical treatments and were due to misdiagnosis or the unrecognized presence of neoplastic disease. The most common complication was a delay in diagnosis and treatment, and the most serious was paraplegia from manipulating a patient with a bleeding disorder who developed a meningeal hematoma.

Source:Department of Osteopathic Manipulative MedicineUniversity of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth