A study to determine the potential short-term effect on effect on blood pressure and heart rate, following the application of pressure on the external auditory meatus; implications for osteopathic practice.
Item
- Title
- A study to determine the potential short-term effect on effect on blood pressure and heart rate, following the application of pressure on the external auditory meatus; implications for osteopathic practice.
- Author(s)
- Iliev, T
- Abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish the short term effects on the blood pressure and heart rate of a group of asymptomatic and normo-tensive patients after the application of pressure on the two external auditory meatus .Methods: The experiment took place at European School of Osteopathy (ESQ) Clinic at Maidstone and Boxley house campus. Sixty healthy volunteers participated in the current single-blinded feasibility study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: A control or B intervention. Group A (n=30) and Group B (n=30). Control group did not receive any intervention. The experiment Group received pressure to the auricular area applied by placing one forefinger in each ear canal, pointing inside slightly superiorly, touching the upper side of the canal. The pressure was applied three times for one minute with a twenty-second interval between each application. During the interval the forefingers were removed from the ear canals and the subject was encouraged to inhale several times slowly and deeply for twenty seconds. Subject's blood pressure and heart rate were taken and recorded before and after the intervention Results: The statistical analysis of the data indicated no significant difference in systolic blood pressure (unpaired t-test p=0.576), diastolic blood pressure (unpaired t-test p=O.636), before and after the intervention. However, a statistical difference in heart rate (unpaired t-test p=0.O11) in the control group had been observed. Conclusion: This study showed that applying pressure for one minute on a non-specific point on the external auricular meatus does not affect heart rate and blood pressure in asymptomatic normotensive subjects. The secondary aim of the study was to identify whether osteopathic techniques and manipulations and/or assessment, which require an application of pressure on external auditory meatus, may have an effect on the heart rate and blood pressure. No such effects were identified. Databases and Keywords: Multiple data bases were used to search for relevant research articles published in the last ten years. The data bases used were SwetsWise, Science Direct, Google Scholar, SciVerse, Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, BMJ, JiOM etc. Exact searches as well as Boolean searches were carried out. The reference fists of relevant articles were also investigated for further related links and data. The following keywords have been researched: auricular acupressure, blood pressure, hypertension, hypotension, acupressure, external auditory meatus, heart rate, auricular acupuncture, Vagus nerve, Arnold's nerve, vasovagal reflex, body mass index, auricular acupressure.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2013
- Date Submitted
- 20.1.2015 16:42:58
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15454
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Blood pressure and acupressure.
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Iliev, T, “A study to determine the potential short-term effect on effect on blood pressure and heart rate, following the application of pressure on the external auditory meatus; implications for osteopathic practice.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/710