ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE AT JIANSHI (PC5) AND NEIGUAN (PC6) ALTERS HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV) IN FRIGHTENED VOLUNTEERS

Author(s):  
Huanlin Huang ◽  
Zheng Zhong ◽  
Xinyi Zhang ◽  
Jizhou Wang ◽  
Yujie Li ◽  
...  

Background: Fear is one of the most widely studied emotions and is closely associated with the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Previous studies have proven that acupuncture directly impacts the ANS, influences the heart rate (HR) and the heart rate variability (HRV) and exerts other effects. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Jianshi (PC5) and Neiguan (PC6) electro-acupuncture on HRV during fear-invoking auditory stimulation using an Actiheart ECG recorder. Materials and Methods: Two hundred healthy subjects were recruited. Using a random number table, subjects were grouped for exposure to fear-invoking auditory stimulation (n=40) or neutral auditory stimulation (n=40). After determining that our fear-invoking auditory stimulation produced the fear emotion, the other 120 subjects were similarly divided into an electro-acupuncture (EA group) and a control group that received PC5 and PC6 electro-acupuncture or no intervention. Results: The fear score of the fear-invoking auditory group was significantly higher than that of the neutral auditory group. The EA group showed higher SD, RMSSD, and high frequency (HF) components of HRV than those of the control group. Conclusion: The primary result suggests that PC5 and PC6 electro-acupuncture affects cardiac autonomic neural regulation, mainly via the parasympathetic system, in subjects exposed to fear-invoking auditory stimulation.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne W. Y. Chung ◽  
Vincent C. M. Yan ◽  
Hongwei Zhang

Aim.To summarize all relevant trials and critically evaluate the effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability (HRV).Method.This was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Keyword search was conducted in 7 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction and risk of bias were done.Results.Fourteen included studies showed a decreasing effect of acupuncture on low frequency (LF) and low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) of HRV for nonhealthy subjects and on normalized low frequency (LF norm) for healthy subjects. The overall effect was in favour of the sham/control group for high frequency (HF) in nonhealthy subjects and for normalized high frequency (HF norm) in healthy subjects. Significant decreasing effect on HF and LF/HF ratio of HRV when acupuncture was performed on ST36 among healthy subjects and PC6 among both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, respectively.Discussion.This study partially supports the possible effect of acupuncture in modulating the LF of HRV in both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, while previous review reported that acupuncture did not have any convincing effect on HRV in healthy subjects. More published work is needed in this area to determine if HRV can be an indicator of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.


Lupus ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
A R Poliwczak ◽  
E Waszczykowska ◽  
B Dziankowska-Bartkowiak ◽  
M Koziróg ◽  
K Dworniak

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus is a progressive autoimmune disease. There are reports suggesting that patients even without overt signs of cardiovascular complications have impaired autonomic function. The aim of this study was to assess autonomic function using heart rate turbulence and heart rate variability parameters indicated in 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring. Methods Twenty-six women with systemic lupus erythematosus and 30 healthy women were included. Twenty-four hour ambulatory ECG-Holter was performed in home conditions. The basic parameters of heart rate turbulence and heart rate variability were calculated. The analyses were performed for the entire day and separately for daytime activity and night time rest. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the basic anthropometric parameters. The mean duration of disease was 11.52 ± 7.42. There was a statistically significant higher turbulence onset (To) value in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, median To = –0.17% (minimum –1.47, maximum 3.0) versus To = –1.36% (minimum –4.53, maximum –0.41), P < 0.001. There were no such differences for turbulence slope (Ts). In the 24-hour analysis almost all heart rate variability parameters were significantly lower in the systemic lupus erythematosus group than in the healthy controls, including SDANN and r-MSSD and p50NN. Concerning the morning activity and night resting periods, the results were similar as for the whole day. In the control group, higher values in morning activity were noted for parameters that characterise sympathetic activity, especially SDANN, and were significantly lower for parasympathetic parameters, including r-MSSD and p50NN, which prevailed at night. There were no statistically significant changes for systemic lupus erythematosus patients for p50NN and low and very low frequency. There was a positive correlation between disease duration and SDNN, R = 0.417; P < 0.05 and SDANN, R = 0.464; P < 0.05, a negative correlation between low/high frequency ratio and r-MSSD, R = –0.454; P < 0.05; p50NN, R = –0.435; P < 0.05 and high frequency, R = –0.478; P < 0.05. In contrast, there was no statistically significant correlation between heart rate turbulence and other variables evaluated, including disease duration and the type of autoantibodies. Conclusion: Our study confirms the presence of autonomic disorders with respect to both heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence parameters and the presence of diurnal disturbances of sympathetic–parasympathetic balance. Further studies are required.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 658-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Hsiang Chen ◽  
Kuo-Sheng Hung ◽  
Yu-Chu Chung ◽  
Mei-Ling Yeh

Background: Stroke, a medical condition that causes physical disability and mental health problems, impacts negatively on quality of life. Post-stroke rehabilitation is critical to restoring quality of life in these patients. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of a mind–body interactive qigong intervention on the physical and mental aspects of quality of life, considering bio-physiological and mental covariates in subacute stroke inpatients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design was used. A total of 68 participants were recruited from the medical and rehabilitation wards at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan and then randomly assigned either to the Chan-Chuang qigong group, which received standard care plus a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise program, or to the control group, which received standard care only. Data were collected using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form-12, stroke-related neurologic deficit, muscular strength, heart rate variability and fatigue at three time points: pre-intervention, halfway through the intervention (day 5) and on the final day of the intervention (day 10). Results: The results of the mixed-effect model analysis showed that the qigong group had a significantly higher quality of life score at day 10 ( p<0.05) than the control group. Among the covariates, neurologic deficit ( p=0.04), muscle strength ( p=0.04), low frequency to high frequency ratio ( p=0.02) and anxiety ( p=0.04) were significantly associated with changes in quality of life. Conversely, heart rate, heart rate variability (standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, low frequency and high frequency), fatigue and depression were not significantly associated with change in quality of life ( p >0.05). Conclusions: This study supports the potential benefits of a 10-day mind–body interactive exercise (Chan-Chuang qigong) program for subacute stroke inpatients and provides information that may be useful in planning adjunctive rehabilitative care for stroke inpatients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanlin Huang ◽  
Zheng Zhong ◽  
Junqi Chen ◽  
Yong Huang ◽  
Jixuan Luo ◽  
...  

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture at HT7 on heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy volunteers. Methods 120 subjects were divided into four groups using a random number table. The following groups of acupuncture interventions were used: HT7 verum acupuncture; HT7 non-penetrating sham acupuncture; acupuncture at a sham point; and no acupuncture. HRV was recorded 10 min before, during and after each stimulation using an Actiheart ECG recorder. Results The HT7 verum acupuncture group had higher very-low frequency, low frequency and high frequency components of HRV compared with the control groups during but not after acupuncture. The HT7 verum acupuncture group also had higher SD of normal intervals compared with the sham needling and no acupuncture control groups. Conclusions Our preliminary study suggests, subject to limitations, that acupuncture at HT7 could affect cardiac autonomic neural regulation in healthy subjects, manifest as increased HRV, most likely via the parasympathetic system. Trial Registration Number ChiCTR-TRC-08000302.


2015 ◽  
pp. S669-S676 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. ZILA ◽  
D. MOKRA ◽  
J. KOPINCOVA ◽  
M. KOLOMAZNIK ◽  
M. JAVORKA ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to evaluate short-term heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of cardiac autonomic control in rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with LPS (100 µg/kg b.w.) and control group with an equivalent volume of saline. ECG recordings were done before (base) and 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 min after LPS or saline administration. HRV magnitude was quantified by time and frequency-domain analysis (mean RR interval, SDRR, RMSSD, spectral powers in low (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands. Heart tissue homogenates and plasma were analyzed to determine interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and oxidative stress level (TBARS). Administration of lipopolysaccharide was followed by continuous rise in colonic body temperature compared to saline-treated controls. Endotoxemia in rats was accompanied by significant decrease in HRV spectral activity in high-frequency range at maximal body temperature (logHFpower: 1.2±0.5 vs. 1.9±0.6 ms2, P<0.01). Increased IL-6 was found in heart tissue homogenates of LPS rats (8.0±0.6 vs. 26.4±4.8 pg/ml, (P<0.05). In conclusions, reduced HRV in HF band may indicate a decreased parasympathetic activity in LPS-induced endotoxemia as basic characteristics of altered cardiac control during response to endotoxemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Galaasen Bakken ◽  
Andreas Eklund ◽  
David M. Hallman ◽  
Iben Axén

Abstract Background Persistent or recurrent neck pain is, together with other chronic conditions, suggested to be associated with disturbances of the Autonomic Nervous System. Acute effects on the Autonomic Nervous System, commonly measured using Heart Rate Variability, have been observed with manual therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect on Heart Rate Variability in (1) a combination of home stretching exercises and spinal manipulative therapy versus (2) home stretching exercises alone over 2 weeks in participants with persistent or recurrent neck pain. Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in five multidisciplinary primary care clinics in Stockholm from January 2019 to April 2020. The study sample consisted of 131 participants with a history of persistent or recurrent neck. All participants performed home stretching exercises daily for 2 weeks and were scheduled for four treatments during this period, with the intervention group receiving spinal manipulative therapy in addition to the home exercises. Heart Rate Variability at rest was measured at baseline, after 1 week, and after 2 weeks, with RMSSD (Root mean square of successive RR interval differences) as the primary outcome. Both groups were blinded to the other group intervention. Thus, they were aware of the purpose of the trial but not the details of the “other” intervention. The researchers collecting data were blinded to treatment allocation, as was the statistician performing data analyses. The clinicians provided treatment for participants in both groups and could not be blinded. A linear mixed-effects model with continuous variables and person-specific random intercept was used to investigate the group-time interaction using an intention to treat analysis. Results Sixty-six participants were randomized to the intervention group and sixty-five to the control group. For RMSSD, a B coefficient of 0.4 (p value: 0.9) was found, indicating a non-significant difference in the regression slope for each time point with the control group as reference. No statistically significant differences were found between groups for any of the Heart Rate Variability indices. Conclusion Adding four treatments of spinal manipulation therapy to a 2-week program of daily stretching exercises gave no significant change in Heart Rate Variability. Trial Registration: The trial was registered 03/07/2018 at ClinicalTrials.gov, registration number: NCT03576846. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31606042/)


Author(s):  
SARIKA KS ◽  
VANDANA BALAKRISHNAN ◽  
HARISH KUMAR ◽  
ANAND KUMAR ◽  
KR SUNDARAM

Objective: This study aims in understanding the effects of Integrated Amrita Meditation (IAM), a type of mindfulness meditation, on the autonomic balance of type 2 diabetic patients through assessment of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: After the initial screening of 30 type 2 diabetic subjects, 10 type 2 diabetic subjects between the age group of 30 and 65 years were randomized into two groups, diabetic test (n=5) and diabetic control group (n=5). Diabetic test group practiced IAM technique under the guidance of a trained practitioner. Both the groups continued the same dietary pattern and medications during the 6-month study period. HRV was taken for all subjects at baseline and after 6 months. In our study, we have focused on the power spectral analysis of HRV which include normalized units of high frequency (nHF), low frequency (nLF), and low frequency-high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio). Results: Mean percentage change in nHF, nLF, and LFHF ratio showed significant changes in between-group comparison (p<0.05). Normalized units of HF increased (p=0.049) while LF (p=0.036) and LFHF ratio (p=0.024) decreased significantly within test group after 6 months of IAM practice suggesting the potential of IAM in improving the parasympathetic tone, thereby tuning the mind and body to calm down during stress. Conclusion: Our study has shown demonstrable improvement in autonomic function which reflects reduced stress after the practice of IAM in diabetic patients.


Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 2469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Di Lernia ◽  
Pietro Cipresso ◽  
Elisa Pedroli ◽  
Giuseppe Riva

In this paper, we describe and test a new portable device that is able to deliver tactile interoceptive stimulation. The device works by delivering precise interoceptive parasympathetic stimuli to C-tactile afferents connected to the lamina I spinothalamocortical system. In humans, interoceptive stimulation can be used to enhance heart rate variability (HRV). To test the effectiveness of the device in enhancing HRV, 13 subjects were randomly assigned in a single-blind between-subjects design either to the experimental condition or to the control condition. In the experimental condition, subjects received stimulation with the developed device; in the control condition subjects received stimulation with static non-interoceptive pressure. Subjects’ electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded, with sampling at 1000 Hz for 5 min as a baseline, and then during the stimulations (11 min). Time domain analyses were performed to estimate the short-term vagally mediated component (rMSSD) of HRV. Results indicated that the experimental group showed enhanced rMSSD, compared to the control group. Moreover, frequency domain analyses indicated that high frequency band power, which reflects parasympathetic activity in humans, also appeared to be enhanced in the experimental group compared to control subjects. Conclusions and future challenges for an embodied perspective of rehabilitative medicine are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-180
Author(s):  
Liisa Kraama ◽  
Pablo Yague ◽  
Heikki Kyröläinen ◽  
Seppo Pulkkinen ◽  
Tuuli Matinsalo ◽  
...  

Summary Study aim: Physically active adults have been shown to have higher heart rate variability (HRV) than less active adults, but less is known about children in this regard. In adults, training-induced changes in physical performance have been shown to be related to increase in HRV, especially in its high frequency component (HF), which is a marker of parasympathetic activity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether 8 weeks of instructed physical training would improve physical performance and cardiac autonomic function (HRV) in secondary school pupils and to examine the relationship between changes in physical performance and the function of the autonomic nervous system. Material and methods: The test group included 12 girls and 12 boys and the control group 7 girls and 7 boys. All the sub­jects were 13-15 years old. Physical training included warm up, circuit training, endurance training, stretching and relaxation 3 times a week for eight weeks. Endurance training intensity was 70-75% of maximal heart rate. Endurance, flexibility, speed and power were measured before and after training. The low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) components of HRV were recorded in supine rest and in standing conditions before and after the eight-week period. Results: Time to exhaustion in the endurance test increased in the test group (p < 0.001), flexibility and ball throwing improved in the test group (p < 0.05), while no changes were observed in the control group. No significant changes were observed in HRV in either group. Conclusions: In conclusion, eight weeks of physical training improves physical performance in children, but it might not affect autonomic cardiac function.


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