Effect of Cervical Manipulation on Autonomic Nervous Function in Healthy Volunteers / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the effect of cervical stimulation on autonomic nervous system activity in humans was investigated.Methods: Healthy young male volunteers were selected as subjects of the trial. The upper cervical spine (C2-5) was stimulated bilaterally with spinal manipulation, and changes in heart rate and heart rate variability were calculated as measures of effects on autonomic nervous system tone. Results: Thirty healthy young male volunteers were tested. It was found that heart rate decreased (R-R interval prolonged) significantly. SDNN and total power spectrum increased significantly, indicating an increase in sympathetic tone. Conclusion: Cervical manipulation can regulate the autonomic nervous system tone in healthy young men, and it suggests a possibility of treating cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia with cervical manipulation.