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Heart rate responses to osteopathic manipulations in healthy young men
Author(s) -
Ioudina Marina,
Toder Eric,
Boudreaux Brittany
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.lb665
Subject(s) - medicine , heart rate , cardiology , cardiovascular physiology , heart rate variability , blood pressure
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is used to treat cardiac patients. Some manipulations are hypothesized to affect the cardiovascular system by altering autonomic tone, although physiological effects of individual techniques have not been well defined. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that cranial manipulations (CMs) as well as articulatory (A) and inhibitory (I) rib raising techniques decreased cardiac output in healthy individuals. This study measured responses to individual manipulations on heart rate (HR) in healthy men in order to further our understanding of OMT effects on cardiovascular physiology. 25–35‐yr old men participated. HR was measured in response to manipulations thought to stimulate parasympathetic activity (CM), stimulate (A), and inhibit (I) sympathetic activity. ECG recordings were used to measure changes in HR. Manipulations were performed by an osteopathic physician. CMs caused a significant 6% decrease in HR during manipulations. Both (A) and (I) techniques did not have a significant effect on HR. These data demonstrate that CMs have a significant effect on HR, likely via an increase in parasympathetic activity. No effects of (A) and (I) rib raising manipulations on HR responses were observed. Future studies should include a larger number of subjects of various age groups.