Cardiovascular Responses to Selected Cranial Osteopathic Manipulations in Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Background and PurposeOsteopathic cranial manipulations (CM) have been used as a part of therapeutic management of hypertensive patients. However, our knowledge about physiological responses to CM in cardiac patients is limited. A quantitative relationship between applied CM and cardiovascular parameters has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to measure changes in heart rate, autonomic input to the heart by using the heart rate variability test, cardiac contractility by using impedance cardiography, and systemic blood pressure in response to selected CM, namely occipital‐atlantal decompression, occipital‐mastoid decompression, and compression of the fourth ventricle.MethodHypertensive 65–75 year old subjects, three men and two women, were involved in this study. Hypertension was controlled by an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (3 subjects), calcium channels blocker (1 subject) and beta‐blocker (1 subject). Each subject participated in the experimental (CM) and control (sham) groups. A non‐invasive impedance cardiography method was used to measure changes in cardiac parameters before and after manipulations. Data were recorded and analyzed using BIOPAC Systems, Inc. equipment and software. Blood pressure was measured before and after manipulations by using a sphygmomanometer. All manipulations were performed by the same osteopathic physician.ResultsCranial and sham manipulations resulted in different responses by the subjects. CM produced a decrease in systolic (5%) and mean arterial (6%) pressures, and revealed a trend towards an increase in sympathetic and decrease in parasympathetic cardiac activity based on heart rate variability test. Sham manipulations did not affect blood pressure and were associated with a trend towards a decrease in sympathetic and increase in parasympathetic cardiac activity. No changes in cardiac contractility were recorded for CM and sham manipulations.Discussion and conclusionIt appears that cranial manipulations may enhance the antihypertensive effect of medication through the effect on autonomic nervous system. The physiological effect of CM on autonomic control of systemic hemodynamics needs further investigation.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funded by the TUN Research Grant AwardThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.