NCT02215486

The Effect of Head Massage Therapy on the Regulation of the Autonomic Nervous System

Head Massage Intervention to Decrease Physiological Signs of Stress as Assessed by Changes in the Autonomic Nervous System Functions in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (actual)
• Sponsor: Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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.

Conditions

• The Effect of Head Massage Therapy on the Autonomic Nervous System

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Head Massage Therapy	Intervention consists of administering head massage therapy according to the Chinese head massage protocol for approximately 10 minutes.
OTHER	Simple relaxation (No Head Massage)	Consists of a simple relaxation in the same sitting position as the head massage therapy session.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-04-01
• Primary completion: 2014-09-01
• First posted: 2014-08-13
• Last updated: 2015-05-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada