Open AccessDohsa‐hou Relaxation Enhances Cardiac Parasympathetic Activity Assessed by Analysis of Heart Rate Variability
Author(s) -
Kuwashima Ryuji,
Sakakibara, Masahito,
Yoshikawa Yoshimi
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
japanese psychological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5884
pISSN - 0021-5368
DOI - 10.1111/jpr.12364
Subject(s) - heart rate variability , heart rate , autonomic nervous system , relaxation (psychology) , medicine , parasympathetic nervous system , psychology , cardiology , anesthesia , audiology , blood pressure
This study examined whether Dohsa‐hou relaxation might enhance cardiac autonomic nervous activity as assessed by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Healthy adults in a parenting support group ( N = 40, 16 men and 24 women, mean age = 31.2 years, SD = 3.9 years), participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to the Dohsa‐hou or control groups. The Dohsa‐hou group performed two Dohsa‐hou treatments, Kukan no hineri (Torso Twist) and Kao no yurume (Facial Loosening), for 5 min each, whereas the control group spent 10 min undergoing quiet rest. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were taken for 5‐min at the baseline and 5‐min after the treatment (post‐treatment measure). Participants also completed the Self‐Rating Scale of Dohsa‐hou (S‐Dohsa) at baseline and post‐treatment. Results indicated that the power of the high‐frequency component of HRV increased significantly in the Dohsa‐hou compared to the control group ( p = .033). Moreover, the S‐Dohsa Relief and Rest subscale score also increased significantly in the Dohsa‐hou compared to the control group ( p < .001), suggesting that Dohsa‐hou relaxation enhanced cardiac parasympathetic activity accompanied by a subjective relaxation response.