Key result
Heat and massage application for 2 weeks significantly decreased serum cortisol levels from 9.54 pg/mL at baseline to 6.92 pg/mL (p=0.003), indicating a reduction in stress response.
Why the study?
Does heat and massage application improve autonomic nervous system responses in healthy volunteers?
Does heat and massage application improve autonomic nervous system responses in healthy volunteers?
Absolute Event Rate: 6.92% vs 9.54%
p-value: p=0.003
Heat and massage application for 2 weeks significantly decreased serum cortisol and plasma norepinephrine levels, suggesting a relaxation effect on the autonomic nervous system.
Suggests autonomic relaxation in healthy volunteers; leaves open clinical relevance pending randomized confirmation.
PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of heat and massage application on autonomic nervous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine subjects volunteered and completed this study. Heat and massage was daily applied for 40 minutes, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Primary-dependent measures included heart rate variability, sympathetic skin response, and serum cortisol and norepinephrine levels. RESULTS: Serum cortisol levels were significantly decreased at 2 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.003). Plasma norepinephrine levels at 4 weeks were significantly decreased compared to baseline (p=0.010). Heart rate, using the power spectra, increased significantly after 2 weeks compared to baseline. Of autonomic nerve conduction measures, latency was significantly increased at 2 and 4 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.023, 0.012), and amplitude was significantly decreased at 4 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.008). There were no serious adverse events such as burns or other major complications. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that heat and massage applications provide relaxation to the autonomic nervous system without serious adverse events.
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Lee et al. (2011) studied Healthy adults (n=139). Heat and massage application vs. Baseline was evaluated on Serum cortisol levels at 2 weeks (p=0.003). Heat and massage application for 2 weeks significantly decreased serum cortisol levels from 9.54 pg/mL at baseline to 6.92 pg/mL (p=0.003), indicating a reduction in stress response.
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