Twenty healthy adults were randomly assigned to a moderate pressure or a light pressure massage therapy group, and EKGs were recorded during a 3-min baseline, during the 15-min massage period and during a 3-min postmassage period. EKG data were then used to derive the high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF) components of heart rate variability and the low to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) as noninvasive markers of autonomic nervous system activity. The participants who received the moderate pressure massage exhibited a parasympathetic nervous system response characterized by an increase in HF, suggesting increased vagal efferent activity and a decrease in the LF/HF ratio, suggesting a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic activity that peaked during the first half of the massage period. On the other hand, those who received the light pressure massage exhibited a sympathetic nervous system response characterized by decreased HF and increased LF/HF.

Int J Neurosci. 2009;119(5):630-8. Diego MA, Field T. Touch Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. mdiego@med.miami.edu

Posted: 04/23/2009



This article provided by The International Hypnosis Research Institute.

Enter your email address to subscribe to the IHRI Newsletter.

Comfortable Dentistry Overcome Your Fear Of Dentists.This hypnosis session will allow you to easily&calmly go to your dental appointments and relax.You will focus on your taking care of your teeth&find that negative associations with the dentists disappear.

Flying without Fear Flying Without Fear!Are you unable to fly because of aviophobia(fear of flying)?Using this preparatory hypnosis session before your flight will allow you to enjoy flying because hypnosis can easily reprogram your mind&you’ll be able to enjoy flying.

Trusting Again Rebuild Trust In Yourself and Others! The unique power of hypnosis helps free you from suffering so that step-by-step you can begin to heal and allow others into your life. You will start the journey back to successful(and safe)relationships.