The Effect of Head Massage Therapy on the Autonomic Nervous System
Conditions
Keywords
Head massage therapy, Massage therapy, Autonomic nervous system (ANS), Heart rate variability (HRV), Pre-ejection period (PEP)
Brief summary
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) unconsciously regulates the activities of vital organ systems such as the respiratory, circulatory, and urinary systems. It consists of two major components, the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which together are in charge of keeping our body in homeostasis. Homeostasis is the state of chemical and metabolic balance within an organism; it is disturbed in situations of uncontrolled stress. Massage has been shown to decrease SNS and stimulate PNS; but most studies focused on full body massage, with limited assessment of ANS function, and lacked control groups. The effects of head massage therapy (HMT) on regulating the activity of the ANS have not been studied before. In this pilot study, we propose that by randomizing 10 participants to sessions of HMT and 'Simple Relaxation' (no HMT), and by using a non-invasive method of measuring the ANS activity (spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability \[HRV\] as well as Pre-ejection Period (PEP)), we will be able to investigate the effects of 10 minutes of HMT in comparison with the period of no HMT administered. We expect HMT to reduce stress, with a better and balanced profile of autonomic nervous system after receiving massage.
Interventions
OTHERHead Massage Therapy
Intervention consists of administering head massage therapy according to the Chinese head massage protocol for approximately 10 minutes.
OTHERSimple relaxation (No Head Massage)
Consists of a simple relaxation in the same sitting position as the head massage therapy session.
Sponsors
Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Otherwise healthy individuals
Exclusion criteria
* Use of anti-depressants or drugs that affect the cardiovascular system or ANS * Smoking more than 10 cigarettes/day * Inability to provide consent * Inability to speak and/or understand English
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters | Within 1 day | Main HRV parameters that will be reported include High Frequency (HF) which is the power in high frequency range representative of the parasympathetic nervous system activity, HFnu which is the HF power in normalized units, and total power which is the total variability of the autonomic nervous system over the temporal segment. HRV parameters are measured at baseline and post intervention. Post-intervention outcomes for each subject will be compared with their baseline. There will also be comparison of the outcomes between the massage and the control intervention, for the effect of massage therapy |
| Pre-ejection period (PEP) | Within 1 day | PEP is the time interval between electrical stimulation of the sinoatrial node and opening of the aortic valves and has shown to be inversely correlated with the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. PEP is measured at baseline and post intervention. Post-intervention outcomes for each subject will be compared with their baseline. There will also be comparison of the outcomes between the massage and the control intervention, for the effect of massage therapy. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed