Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2007/03, 74, type of study: ,ct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/3015)

Keywords:

age dependence [1]
bio cybernetic connections [1]
chronic pain [324]
HeartMan [1]
heart rate variability [69]
nervous system [249]
stress [116]
vegetative nervous system [4]
WSO [508]
clinical trial [674]

Abstract:

In the study at hand, the question had to be clarified, if osteopathic interventions can influence the vegetative nervous system. 12 candidates with chronic disorders passed through an eight week observation period, where they were treated four times generally osteopathic. The evaluation of the objective was made by measuring of the heart rate variability (HRV) with the help of the HeartMan (a portable long term ECG of the HeartBalance Company). The evaluations of this 24-hour measuring, before and after the intervention phase were compared. As an additional evaluation criterion a visual analogous scale (VAS) was used to define the pain intensity before and after the treatment. For the statistic preparation the mean values and the mean errors of the mean values ± SEM were calculated. With help of the t–test the data were checked for possible significances by p < 0,05. Connections between two variables were verified by a linear regression analysis. The final measuring values have all changed in terms of an improvement of the vegetative status. However, changes of the HRV parameters did not show the significance level, since the individual reactions to the treatment turned out differently. Only the results of the VAS by p < 0,05 were significant. A distinct correlation showed, between the age of the test subjects and the ascertained HRV – parameters. In young patients the osteopathic treatment caused a distinct improvement of the HRV parameters, as far as their basic values were within the norm. Only older patients proved considerably more rigid in their reaction. The study proves that stress situations in daily life have a significant influence on the measuring results. The underlying bio-cybernetic considerations in this connection will be followed up at a further part of this work.