Fasciatherapy combined with pulsology touch induces changes in blood turbulence potentially beneficial for vascular endothelium

Evaluation of a daily facial massage on perceived sleep quality and well-being: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disorders are widespread and constitute a major public health risk. The present study thus aims to investigate the effect of a facial cosmetic self-massage daily routine on women's sleep and well-being.

METHODS

The present pilot study was conducted on 62 middle-aged women declaring daily tiredness and sleep troubles. We examined the effect of a regular facial cosmetic self-massage routine on sleep patterns, daytime sleepiness, and well-being over the course of 2 months.

RESULTS

After 1 and 2 months, our results show improved sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI - -20.2% after 2 months), reduced daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS, -31.2% after 2 months), and increased well-being measures. The number of participants with abnormal sleep (PSQI >5) decreased over the course of the experiment as well, from 71.9% to 49.2% at the end of the 2 months [odds ratio 95% CI for decrease: 0.38 (0.18-0.81)]. Similarly, the number of participants with excessive daytime sleepiness (>10 on the ESS) decreased over the course of the study from 44.3% to 21% after 1 month [95% CI: 0.33 (0.15-0.73)] and to 16.1% after 2 months [95% CI: 0.24 (0.10-0.56)].

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that a facial cosmetic self-massage routine may improve sleep patterns and is likely to be a useful addition to a standard sleep hygiene routine.

Effects of Self-Myofascial Release on Athletes' Physical Performance: A Systematic Review

Therapists and strength and conditioning specialists use self-myofascial release (SMR) as an intervention tool through foam rollers or massage rollers for soft tissue massage, with the purpose of improving mobility in the muscular fascia. Moreover, the use of SMR by professional and amateur athletes during warm-ups, cool downs, and workouts can have significant effects on their physical performance attributes, such as range of motion (ROM) and strength. The purpose of this study was to analyse the literature pertaining to these types of interventions and their effects found in different physical performance attributes for athletes. A systematic search was carried out using the following databases: PUBMED, ISI Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane, including articles up to September 2023. A total of 25 articles with 517 athletes were studied in depth. SMR seems to have acute positive effects on flexibility and range of motion, without affecting muscle performance during maximal strength and power actions, but favouring recovery perception and decreasing delayed-onset muscle soreness. Some positive effects on agility and very short-range high-speed actions were identified, as well. In conclusion, although there is little evidence of its method of application due to the heterogeneity in that regard, according to our findings, SMR could be used as an intervention to improve athletes' perceptual recovery parameters, in addition to flexibility and range of motion, without negatively affecting muscle performance.

Osteopathic manual therapy in heart failure patients: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Heart Failure (HF) patients usually present with increased arterial resistance and reduced blood pressure (BP) leading to an impaired functional capacity. Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) focused on myofascial release techniques (MRT) and in the balancing of diaphragmatic tensions, has been shown to improve blood flow in individuals using the resistive index (RI). However, its effects in HF patients have not been examined.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the acute response of selected osteopathic techniques on RI, heart rate (HR), and BP in patients with HF.

METHODS

Randomized-controlled clinical trial of HF patients assigned to MRT (six different techniques with three aimed at the pelvis, two at the thorax, and one at the neck for 15 min) or Control group (subjects in supine position for 15 min without intervention). The RI of the femoral, brachial and carotid arteries was measured via doppler ultrasound while HR and BP were measured via sphygmomanometry before and after a single MRT or control intervention.

RESULTS

Twenty-two HF patients equally distributed (50% male, mean age 53 years; range 32-69 years) (ejection fraction = 35.6%, VO_2peak: 12.9 mL/kg^-1 min^-1) were evaluated. We found no intra or inter group differences in RI of the carotid (Δ_MRT: 0.07% vs Δ _Control:11.8%), brachial (Δ_MRT:0.17% vs Δ_Control: 2.9%), or femoral arteries (Δ_MRT:1.65% vs Δ_Control: 0.97%) (P > 0.05) and no difference in HR or BP (Δ_MRT:0.6% vs Δ_Control: 3%), (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A single MRT session did not significantly change the RI, HR, or BP of HF patients.

Fasciatherapy and Reflexology compared to Hypnosis and Music Therapy in Daily Stress Management

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from stress symptoms due to every-day life who are looking for a non-pharmacological response to their relief expectation are many. Furthermore, early reckoning of the day-to-day stress which may lead to clinical diagnosis is the best way of preventing the stress-related diseases. Among the many alternative medicinal options, there is little evidence that fasciatherapy (Fs) and reflexology (Rf) are effective in this field.

PURPOSE

assess incidence of fasciatherapy Danis Bois Method (DBM) and of reflexology on patients' stress level in everyday-life, and provide a more informed choice among the numerous mind and body techniques by comparing them with hypnosis (Hp) and music therapy (Mt).

SETTINGS

Specialized Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) centres for outpatients.

PARTICIPANTS

308 individuals (average age = 50.53 SD 14.37, 93 males, 215 females) going to the centres for health care, but free from serious diseases and not heavily medicated respecting the inclusion criteria and providing valid forms.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Four armed, non-randomized observational pragmatic trial with pretest-posttest repeated measures, on separate samples of natural groups.

INTERVENTION

According to the centre participants where they used to be treated, they were exposed to a single semi-standardized session of a technique of their choice: Fs, Rf, Hp, Mt. Volunteers had a controlled non-intervention resting (Rt) session.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mean STAI-Y assessing anxiety as reflecting the stress level: MANCOVA and ANCOVA performed with Tukey's HSD.

RESULTS

MANCOVA indicates a significant reduction of anxiety (p < .01) in each condition, resting included. ANCOVA performance adjusting on stress level in T0 (41.73) and on the mean sumscore of the trait (44.89), Fs (-13.92), Rf (-15.92), and Hp (-15.88) were equally effective on the stress level decrease. Mt (-10.0) and Rt (-6.38) showed the same level of effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest fasciatherapy DBM, hypnosis, and reflexology could be used as non-pharmacological and safe interventions in stress management. Though showing a lesser efficiency, music therapy could be useful in different circumstances.

The Effects of Oscillatory Biofield Therapy on Pain and Functional Limitations Associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

OBJECTIVES

Biofield treatments have been used for pain control in patients with cancer and chronic pain. However, research on the effect of biofield treatment on specific somatic disorders is lacking. This study intends to investigate the effect of oscillating biofield therapy (OBFT) on symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

DESIGN

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty patients with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome participated in the study.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomly assigned to active or placebo treatment groups. Those in the treatment group received six sessions of OBFT with intention to treat during a period of 2 weeks. Patients in the placebo group had the same number of treatment sessions with mock OBFT treatment.

OUTCOME MEASURE

The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; Symptom Severity Scale (SSS); and Functional Status Scale (FSS) were used for outcome assessment.

RESULTS

Both clinically and statistically significant changes in intensity of pain with activity (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-4.2; p = 0.000), night pain (p = 0.000, 95% CI, 3.2-5.7), DASH questionnaire (95% CI, 12.0-21.9; p = 0.000), SSS (95% CI, 0.64-1.15; p = 0.003), and FSS (95% CI, 0.41-0.97; p = 0.029) were found between the treatment and placebo groups. Statistically significant reduction in number of patients with positive results on the Phalen test (87%; p = 0.000), Tinel sign (73%; p = 0.000), and hand paresthesia (80%; p = 0.000) was noted in the treatment group. During 6-month follow-up, 86% of patients in the treatment group remained pain free and had no functional limitations.

CONCLUSION

OBFT can be a viable and effective treatment for improving symptoms and functional limitations associated with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.

A unifying neuro-fasciagenic model of somatic dysfunction - Underlying mechanisms and treatment - Part II

This paper offers an extensive review of the main fascia-mediated mechanisms underlying various therapeutic processes of clinical relevance for manual therapy. The concept of somatic dysfunction is revisited in light of the several fascial influences that may come into play during and after manual treatment. A change in perspective is thus proposed: from a nociceptive model that for decades has viewed somatic dysfunction as a neurologically-mediated phenomenon, to a unifying neuro-fascial model that integrates neural influences into a multifactorial and multidimensional interpretation of manual therapeutic effects as being partially, if not entirely, mediated by the fascia. By taking into consideration a wide spectrum of fascia-related factors - from cell-based mechanisms to cognitive and behavioural influences - a model emerges suggesting, amongst other results, a multidisciplinary-approach to the intervention of somatic dysfunction. Finally, it is proposed that a sixth osteopathic 'meta-model' - the connective tissue-fascial model - be added to the existing five models in osteopathic philosophy as the main interface between all body systems, thus providing a structural and functional framework for the body's homoeostatic potential and its inherent abilities to heal.

Vascular fasciatherapy danis bois method: a study on mechanism concerning the supporting point applied on arteries

Background

A first study on vascular fasciatherapy enabled us to observe the turning of a turbulent blood flow into a laminar one, and a questioning on the process involved in this transformation emerged. The first question was: What is the nature of artery from the point of view of fascia? And a second question was: Which is the link permitting the observed process working in our first study? So this time, we are investigating a specific aspect of the big question that polarizes the interest of many researchers: “What is fascia?”

Methods

Following Donald Ingber’s statement, “It is necessary to understand how tissues and organs are structured across multiple size scales”, our research methods have been established in order to collect information on what is artery and what is fascia. Concerning these two organs, we have questioned science across the scales of embryology, anatomy, histology and cytology. Beyond the knowledge on structure, the functional link between artery and fascia is the necessary complement of this study whose starting point is in fact a questioning on process. As an application of this study, vascular fasciatherapy Danis-Bois Method and mechanotransduction have been investigated in theoretical and in research aspects to improve the understanding of how they work.

Results

The embryological approach points out a common origin and a histofunctional community of connective tissue and artery. As organs, arteries are sheathed by the adventia-fascia, and are penetrated by connective tissue extensions in media and intima. Furthermore, the functional point of view of this study reports the knowledge on mechanotransduction involving artery, both from the connective side and from the luminal side. Functional anatomy, surgery, histology, and cytology integrating the theory of the extended cytoskeleton, underline continuity from the static and functional points of view, with tensegrity being the architectural principle linking molecules to the entire body.

Conclusion

By answering these questions, we are attempting a better understanding of the mechanisms occurring in the progress of the arterial supporting point. One could presume that it relaxes adventitia and media, locally and all along the arterial network. Its action could also extend inward to the intima and on blood, as well as outwards to the neighboring connective tissue. By its local and remote action, it may be useful when diseases associate general perturbations and arterial disorders, like in high blood pressure or in aging.

Therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage on pain, muscle tension and anxiety in patients with scapulocostal syndrome: a randomized single-blinded pilot study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), muscle tension and anxiety associated with scapulocostal syndrome (SCS). Twenty patients were randomly allocated to receive a 30-min session of either TTM or physical therapy modalities (PT: ultrasound therapy and hot pack) for 9 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Pain intensity, PPT, muscle tension and anxiety were measured before and immediately after the first treatment session, 1 day after the last treatment session and 2 weeks after the last treatment session. Results indicated that the TTM group showed a significant improvement in all parameters after the first treatment session and at 1 day and 2 weeks after the last treatment session (p < 0.05). For all outcomes, similar changes were observed in the PT group except for PPT (p < 0.05). The adjusted post-test mean values of each assessment time point for pain intensity and muscle tension were significantly lower in the TTM group than those of the PT group (p < 0.01). In addition, the values for PPT were significantly higher in the TTM group (p > 0.05). We therefore suggest that TTM could be an alternative treatment for the patient with SCS.