Research Department
The Rennes Institute of Osteopathy Research Unit was founded in October 2013 to promote research in the field of osteopathy by engaging the teaching faculty and introducing students to research, with the aim of enhancing the scientific recognition of the discipline. Ultimately, the aim is to see osteopaths recognised as statutory "healthcare professionals".
Research at IO-Rennes focuses primarily on two fields: the teaching of osteopathic practices and sports science. The IO Rennes Clinical Practice and Research Association, the Dissertation Validation Committee, and the Research Committee are the three elements that make up the Rennes Institute of Osteopathy Research Unit, which was established by Decree 2014-1043 of September 12, 2014.
research orientations IO-RB partnership with the University of Rennes 2 in collaboration with the M2S laboratory
The « Applied Biomechanics » research area focuses on the evaluation of osteopathic tests and manual care through tools and methods used in biomechanics. Thanks to the collaboration between the IO-RB and the University of Rennes 2, osteopathy students have access to the resources of the M2S lab to set up research protocols, supervised by Mathieu Ménard, PhD in Biomechanics and Associate Researcher at the M2S lab. These experiments aim, in the long term, to improve the understanding and the management of musculoskeletal disorders.
In addition to the fundamental knowledge provided by biomechanics, the aim of the Institut d'Ostéopathie de Rennes Bretagne is to give students a critical scientific eye for the therapeutic approaches taught. To date, few scientific studies have succeeded in clearly and objectively identifying the benefits of osteopathic treatment in terms of functional biomechanical modifications.
The development of collaborations between clinicians and biomechanists is a real medical and scientific challenge. In France, since article no. 2014/11, biomechanics has been officially included in the training of osteopathic students as its own teaching unit. Osteopaths rely on tests that are often based on a purely deductive approach, inspired by clinical experience.
THE CLINICAL PRACTICE AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Under the supervision of the IO Rennes Academic Council, the association is a not-for-profit body under France's 1901 Statute of Associations. It enables 4th and 5th year students to see patients and acquire the experience they need for their future practice, under the responsibility of qualified osteopaths.
THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Working within the framework defined by the Scientific Council, the committee decides which research topics and issues are relevant for the Institute. It processes data from the teaching staff and the Scientific Council and publishes reports that include summaries of its recommendations and analyses.
Mathieu Ménard, Head of Research at IO Rennes
Mathieu Ménard joined our staff in 2016 as an assistant-professor. His duties include evaluating the efficacy of osteopathic treatment as well as applying research methodologies, particularly in the area of biomechanics, to advance research in the cause of pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
OSTEOPATH AND PHD IN BIOMECHANICS
Mathieu Ménard graduated from the Nantes Institute of Osteopathic Studies (IDHEO) in 2008 and obtained the University Diploma in Sport Osteopathy in 2012. He went on to gain a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation, Disability and Mobility Performance Engineering (IRHPM) from the Sports Sciences Department at Poitiers University (2013), then a PhD in Biomechanics and Bio-engineering at Poitiers University in 2016 (Fundamental and Applied Science Faculty - PPRIME Institute UPR 3346 - Robotics, Biomechanics, Sports & Health team - ROBIOSS).
ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER - M2S LAB
Mathieu Ménard now spends two days a week as an Associate Research Fellow at the M2S (Movement, Sport and Health Science) Lab, where he conducts research. His current work focuses on how musculoskeletal modeling can help prevent cycling-related injuries (see Publications). He teaches three days a week at the Rennes Institute of Osteopathy, where he lectures on biomechanics and supervises the students' research projects at the IO-Rennes clinic and the Rennes 2 University research lab. He has been instrumental in reinforcing cooperation between IO Rennes and Rennes 2's Movement, Sport and Health research lab.
DISSERTATION SUPERVISER
Each student receives individualized tutoring for their final dissertation from Mathieu Ménard, a Qualified Osteopath with over five years of experience, in accordance with the directives of the Order of December 12, 2014 pertaining to osteopathy studies (Official Journal of the French Republic n°0289 of December 14, 2014). Mathieu evaluates the research project's professional and scientific relevance and ensures that it identifies particularly important or unexplored issues in defining the research question, supervises both data collection and dissertation drafting, and prepares the students for the defense.
