Effects of Combined Stimulation on the Autonomic Nervous System: A Pilot Study

The autonomic nervous system has a regulatory structure that helps people adapt to changes in their environment by adjusting or modifying some functions in response to stress, and regulating involuntary function of human organs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combined stimulation, both far-infrared heating and chiropractic, on the autonomic nervous system activities using thermal image and heart rate variability. Six healthy subjects participated in this test. We compared the before and after autonomic nervous system activities through obtaining thermal image and photoplethysmogram signal. The thermal images showed that the combined stimulation changed subject-s body temperature more highly and widely than before. The result of heart rate variability indicated that LF/HF ratio decreased. We concluded that combined stimulation activates autonomic nervous system, and expected other possibilities of this combined stimulation.

Authors:

• Dae Won Lee
• Ji Hyung Park
• Sinae Eom
• Syung Hyun Cho
• Jong Soo Lee
• Han Sung Kim

Keywords:

• Far-infrared heating
• Chiropractic
• Autonomic nervous system
• Heart rate variability

References:

[1] Low P.A., "Clinical autonomic disorders", 3rd ed, Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins, 2008, pp.11-12
[2] Kevin F. et al., "Handbook of cardiac anatomy, physiology, and devices",
Springer Verlag, 2008, pp. 177-189
[3] Shojiro I., "Biological activities caused by far-infrared radiation",
International Journal of Biometeorology, vol. 33, 1989, pp. 145-150
[4] Nelson C.F. et al., "Chiropractic as spine care: a model for the profession",
Chiropractic Osteopathy, vol. 13, 2005, pp. 1-17
[5] Cauwenbergs P., "Vertebral subluxation and the anatomic relationship of
the autonomic nervous system", Foundations of Chiropractic, Subluxation St Louis, 1995, pp. 235-266
[6] Suter B, Kistler A., "Demonstration of the effective of acupuncture on the
autonomic nervous system by examination of the microcirculation",
Research in Complementary Medicine, vol. 6, 1999, pp. 32-34
[7] Camm A. J., Malik M., Bigger J. T., Breithard G., "Heart rate variability:
standards of measurement, physiological interpretation, and clinical use",
European Heart Journal, vol. 17, 1996, pp.345-381
[8] Young-Chang P., "The Effect of Acupressure at the Extra 1 Point on
Subjective and Autonomic Responses to Needle Insertion", Anesthesia
and analgesia, vol. 107, 2008, pp.661-664
[9] Macor F., Fagard R., Vanhoof R., Staessen J., Thijs L., Amery A., "Power
spectral analysis of short-term RR interval and blood pressure variability:
Comparison of different methods and assessment of reproducibility",
High Blood Pressure, vol. 3, 1994, pp.15-21
[10] Elif Derya U., Inan G., "Spectral analysis of internal carotid arterial
Doppler signals using FFT, AR, MA, and ARMA methods", Computers
in Biology and Medicine, vol. 34, 2004, pp. 293-306