NCT03579238

Entrainment Between Clinician and Patient During Palpation

Entrainment Interaction Between Physician and Patient During Palpation of the Cranium

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Western University of Health Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will assess the physiological interaction between the palpating clinician and a research participant using a laser Doppler flow meter to detect changes in blood flow parameters.

Detailed description

Research participants will lie on their backs on a soft table while a licensed physician, with special training in osteopathic palpation and manipulation approaches, touches, and administers a slight inhibition of occipital bone motion for five minutes per stage. Both will have a non invasive skin sensor (probe), called a laser Doppler flow meter, attached to their forehead to detect changes in subcutaneous blood flow velocity. The signal from the device will be augmented and transmitted for display onto a digital polygraph recorder. Then, using Fourier transformation software, the signal will be displayed as a graph for spectral analysis to determine the effect on specific wave forms related to autonomic activity. The interaction between the two individuals will be assessed for evidence of entrainment phenomenon, i.e., the influence of one biorhythm upon another.

Conditions

• Doctor Patient Relation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	CV4	The occiput of a supine patient is held such that flexion motion is inhibited and extension motion is reinforced.
PROCEDURE	touching	the clinician allows the participant's head to rest quietly upon his open palms on a table.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-06-25
• Primary completion: 2018-07-15
• Completion: 2018-07-18
• First posted: 2018-07-06
• Last updated: 2018-10-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States