Cardiac autonomic response after cranial technique of the fourth ventricle (cv4) compression in systemic hypertensive subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare blood pressure (BP) behavior and heart rate variability (HRV) among hypertensive stage I and normotensive individuals who were submitted to the cranial technique of the 4th ventricle compression (CV4), an osteopathic technique. METHODS: In this experimental controlled study, thirty men between 40 and 60 years old were evaluated and divided into two groups: normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT). The CV4 maneuver was applied in both groups and BP was measured at 5 (five) different stages: pre and post-intervention, 5, 10 and 15min after technique. Time-frequency parameters were obtained from measurements of RR intervals. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA two-way for analysis of the condition factor (NT and HT) and times with p-value ≤ .05. RESULTS: There was a reduction in the BP of the HT group. A significant intergroup difference (p = .01) was noticed, with respect to the standard deviation of successive normal R-R intervals (SDNN) values, mainly between pre-intervention and 15min stages. Concerning root mean square of the mean squared differences (RNSSD) values, the highlights were differences between pre-intervention and 10min (p = .01) only in the NT group. There was an increase in high frequencies (HF) values and a low frequencies (LF) attenuation in both groups at all different stages. CONCLUSION: The data showed a BP reduction in the HT group in pre-intervention/15min and an increase in parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity in both groups. This suggests a change in the sympathetic-vagal balance. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the data on BP reduction mechanisms with CV4.

Intervenção osteopática em idosos e o impacto na qualidade de vida / Osteopathic intervention in the elderly and its impact on quality of life

INTRODUÇÃO: O envelhecimento evidencia a necessidade do idoso do controle das doenças e do bem-estar físico, psíquico e social. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da intervenção osteopática na qualidade de vida de idosos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Vinte e um indivíduos (72,1 ± 4,7 anos, 18 mulheres) completaram este estudo. Foi aplicado o questionário de qualidade de vida WHOQOL-bref no primeiro e sexto atendimentos no intervalo de 48 [39; 66] dias. A avaliação e o tratamento das disfunções somáticas encontradas foram feitos em todas as sessões e as técnicas de domínio osteopático foram utilizadas. Os dados foram analisados por meio do teste de Wilcoxon com significância em p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foi encontrada diferença significativa no domínio físico (pré-tratamento: 58,67 ± 12,91 por cento; pós-tratamento: 64,64 ± 13,75 por cento; p < 0,05). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos domínios: psicológico (pré-tratamento: 63,10 ± 15,38 por cento; pós-tratamento: 64,38 ± 11,67 por cento; p = 0,846), relações sociais (pré-tratamento: 62,30 ± 14,34 por cento; pós-tratamento: 62,50 ± 12,82 por cento; p = 1,000) e meio ambiente (pré-tratamento: 52,08 ± 11,91 por cento; pós-tratamento: 52,19 ± 11,02 por cento; p = 0,806). O nível de escolaridade apresentou associação significativa com a pontuação total do questionário antes (r = 0,457; p = 0,019) e após (r = 0,380; p = 0,049) a intervenção. CONCLUSÃO: A medicina osteopática, com sua ampla abordagem, interferiu positivamente no domínio físico da qualidade de vida. Outros domínios (meio ambiente, psicológico e relações pessoais) não foram modificados pela intervenção osteopática, contribuindo para a manutenção da qualidade de vida geral.

INTRODUCTION: The aging process evidence the need to provide to the elderly either disease control and physical, psychological, and social well-being. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the osteopathic intervention and its impact in quality of life of aged people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one subjects (72.1 ± 4.7 years, 18 women) were enrolled in and completed this study. The WHOQOL-bref questionnaire was applied at first and sixth session with an average time interval of 48 [39; 66] days. At each session, screening tests and treatment were performed for somatic dysfunctions; treatment techniques were selected among osteopathic domain. Data from questionnaire were analyzed with Wilcoxon test with significance established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Significant difference was found in the physical domain (before: 58.67 ± 12.91 percent; after: 64.64 ± 13.75 percent; p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in psychological domain (before: 63.10 ± 15.38 percent; after: 64.38 ± 11.67 percent; p = 0.846), social relations (before: 62.30 ± 14.34 percent; after: 62.50 ± 12.82 percent; p = 1.000) and environment (before: 52.08 ± 11.91 percent; after: 52.19 ± 11.02 percent; p = 0.806). Educational level presented significant association with total scoring of the questionnaire before (r = 0.457; p = 0.019) and after (r = 0,380; p = 0,049) osteopathic intervention. CONCLUSION: Osteopathic medicine, in a broad approach, positively contributed to the physical domain of quality of life. Other domains (environmental, psychological, and social relations) were not modified by osteopathic intervention, resulting in unchanged overall quality of life.