HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cottingham, J. T Articles by Richmond, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cottingham, J. T Articles by Richmond, K. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Shifts in Pelvic Inclination Angle and Parasympathetic Tone Produced by Rolfing Soft Tissue Manipulation

J. Cottingham, MS, is Certified Advanced Rolfing Practitioner, Staff Manual Therapist, and Research Associate, Frances Nelson Health Center, 1306 Carver Dr, Champaign, IL 61820 (USA).
S. Porges, PhD, is Director, Developmental Assessment Laboratory, and Professor, Department of Human Development, College of Education, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD 20742.
K. Richmond, MHS, is Physical Therapist, Christie Clinic, 101 W University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820.

The effects of soft tissue manipulation (Rolfing method) were evaluated on young healthy men using two dependent variables: 1) angle of pelvic inclination and 2) parasympathetic activity. Pelvic inclination was assessed by determining the angle of standing pelvic tilt (SPT) with an inclinometer. Autonomic tone was assessed by a measure of cardiac vagal tone (amplitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia) derived from monitoring heart rate. Thirty-two subjects, preselected for exhibiting an anteriorly tilted pelvis, were randomly assigned to either an Experimental Group (n = 16) that received a 45-minute Rolfing pelvic mobilization session or a Control Group (n = 16) that received a 45-minute control session without manipulation. Dependent variables were assessed before the 45-minute session, immediately after the session, and 24 hours later. Comparing pretest to posttest assessments, the Experimental Group demonstrated a significant decrease in SPT angle and a significant increase in vagal tone. The Control Group did not show significant pretest or posttest differences. The results provide theoretical support for the reported clinical uses of soft tissue pelvic manipulation for 1) certain types of low back dysfunction and 2) musculoskeletal disorders associated with autonomic stress.

Key Words: Autonomic nervous system • Manual therapy • Parasympathetic nervous system • Soft tissue syndromes

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?