http://www.jaoa.org/content/111/12/660.abstract
Abstract
Context:
The use of cranial osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) to alter
cerebral tissue oxygen saturation could play a role in
the maintenance of cerebral homeostasis.
Objective: To examine the effects of cranial OMM on cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (SCTO2) and cardiac autonomic function in healthy adults.
Methods:
Cranial OMM augmentation and suppression techniques and sham therapy
were randomly applied to healthy adults. During cranial
OMM and sham therapy, SCTO2 of the prefrontal
cortex was determined bilaterally by using near-infrared spectroscopy.
Heart rate, blood pressure, and systemic arterial
blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) were also measured. Power
spectral analysis was applied to continuous 4-minute R-R intervals.
Measurements were made during 2-minute baseline
periods, during 4-minute applications of the techniques, and during
5-minute recovery periods.
Results:
Twenty-one adults (age range, 23-32 y) participated in the present
study. Differences in mean baseline measurements for the
augmentation technique, suppression technique, and sham therapy
were not statistically significant for heart rate, blood pressure,
SaO2, left SCTO2, or right SCTO2.
During the suppression technique, there was a statistically significant
decrease in both left (slope [standard deviation]=
-0.33 [0.08] %/min, R2=0.85, P=.026) and right (slope [standard deviation]=-0.37 [0.06] %/min, R2=0.94, P=.007) SCTO2
with increased cranial OMM time. However, neither the augmentation
technique nor the sham therapy had a statistically significant
effect on SCTO2. Decreases in
normalized low-frequency power of R-R interval variability and
enhancements of its high-frequency power were
statistically significant (P=.05) during cranial OMM and sham
therapy, indicating a decrease in cardiac sympathetic influence and an
enhanced parasympathetic modulation.
Conclusion: The cranial OMM suppression technique effectively and progressively reduced SCTO2 in both prefrontal lobes with the treatment time.