Key result
A 10-minute session of Chinese head massage significantly increased total power of heart rate variability compared to sitting quietly (66% vs -6.6% relative change from baseline; p=0.017).
Why the study?
Does 10 minutes of Chinese head massage therapy improve heart rate variability in healthy adults?
RCT (n=10)
crossover
No
Does 10 minutes of Chinese head massage therapy improve heart rate variability in healthy adults?
Absolute Event Rate: 66% vs -6.6%
p-value: p=0.017
A brief 10-minute session of head massage may acutely increase parasympathetic nervous system activity as measured by heart rate variability in healthy adults.
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May support acute parasympathetic activation via head massage in healthy adults; extends nonpharmacologic HRV modulation evidence.
Fazeli et al. (2015) conducted an RCT in healthy adults (n=10). Chinese head massage vs. Sitting quietly with eyes closed was evaluated on Main parameters of HRV, including total power (TP), high frequency (HF), HF as a normalized unit, pre-ejection period, and heart rate (HR) (p=0.017). A 10-minute session of Chinese head massage significantly increased total power of heart rate variability compared to sitting quietly (66% vs -6.6% relative change from baseline; p=0.017).