Mapping Osteopathic Manual Therapy for Thoracic Mobility and Breathing Function in People with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to map existing literature on osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) techniques that target thoracic mobility and respiratory function in individuals with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory condition that primarily affects the axial skeleton, often resulting in thoracic stiffness and restrictive ventilatory patterns. Although physiotherapy is well established in AS management, the specific contribution of OMT remains underexplored. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, this review will systematically search the following databases: PubMed, AMED, Scopus, and CINAHL to identify relevant literature. These studies will be screened by two independent reviewers and assessed according to predefined inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted, charted, and thematically synthesised to identify common OMT techniques, measured outcomes, methodological limitations, and knowledge gaps. This review will benefit clinicians by clarifying which OMT techniques have been studied, what outcomes have been evaluated, and where further research is needed. It will also support the evidence-based integration of OMT into multidisciplinary management of AS, contributing to patient-centred care and the broader understanding of osteopathic interventions for chronic inflammatory conditions.