Effect of a Sequence of Specific Manual Therapy Techniques Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults

Effect of a Sequence of Specific Manual Therapy Techniques Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults: a Single-application Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

The activity of the autonomic nervous system has been shown to influence the appearance of symptoms in some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or migraine, among others. In the bibliography we find different authors who, through intervention using manual therapy, have demonstrated its effects on the autonomic nervous system, especially on the increase in parasympathetic activity and reduction in sympathetic activity. A clinical trial is proposed to verify these effects.

The aim of the study is to analyse the effects of applying a specific sequence of manual therapy techniques focused on the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. This intervention sequence will be applied in a single intervention. As a result, an immediate increase in parasympathetic activity could occur, measured by different parameters of heart rate variability, heart rate and respiratory rate. If the results confirm the expected effects, this treatment sequence could be used as a therapeutic resource in patients with pathologies whose symptoms may be related to the deregulation of the autonomic nervous system, such as rheumatoid arthritis, migraine or fibromyalgia, among others.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of informed consent
• Aged between 18-65

Exclusion Criteria:

• Regular consumtion of alcohol or illegal drugs
• Consumption of medications whose effect acts on the autonomic nervous system (cholinergic agonists and antagonists, or adrenergic agonists and antagonists)
• Diagnostic of disease that may affect the activity of the autonomic nervous system or the perception of pain (such as generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue).
• Pregnancy