The AAO Journal, 2024/06, 34(2):29-30. doi: 10.53702/i2375-5717-34.2.16, type of study: ,ani,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://meridian.allenpress.com/aaoj/article/34/2/16/500954/LBORC-NUFA-Poster-Abstracts-2024-Students)

Keywords:

animal experiment [68]
autonomic nervous system [154]
heart rate variability [69]
OMT [3924]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3945]

Abstract:

Introduction/Background: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) includes the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the body’s flight or fight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), the body’s rest and digest portion. Osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) targeting specific regions associated with the ANS- such as suboccipital release and rib raising- can enhance PNS tone. Methods: We explored whether rats can be used as models to evaluate the effectiveness of OMT in increasing heart rate variability (HRV) over time. We hypothesize that rats treated with OMT will have more balanced ANS responses and therefore a higher HRV. Results: Nine male rats were equally divided into control, sham, and treatment groups. The treatment group received OMT with suboccipital release, thoracic inlet release, rib raising, diaphragmatic doming, and prevertebral ganglia release. Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and a 5-minute electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded. The rats received treatment, followed by another 5-minute ECG. Treatments were repeated daily for 5 days, with ECGs obtained on days 1 and 5. R-R intervals from the ECGs were analyzed using Lab7. The ratio of low frequency to high frequency domain was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Baseline HRV measurements for the control, sham, and OMT group were 2.53 (±1.77), 1.08 (±1.04), and 0.62 (±0.49). After 5 days, the HRV for each group increased to 2.61 (±1.91), 2.61 (±3.01), 4.68 (±2.32), respectively. Discussion/Conclusion: Due to the variance in pre-treatment HRV, no significant conclusions can be drawn regarding the increases seen on day 5. Statistical significance between groups cannot be calculated due to small sample size. Future studies should utilize a higher sample size with similar baseline HRV readings.