Autonomic, neuro-immunological and psychological responses to wrapped warm footbaths--a pilot study.
This study examined the immediate effects of wrapped warm footbaths (WW Footbath) on the autonomic, neuroimmunological and psychological activities in healthy middle-aged volunteers. Thirteen subjects were divided into a footbath group (n=7) and a control group (n=6). Immediate changes in autonomic activities were recorded with wavelet analysis of heart rate variability. Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and serum cortisol levels were used as neuroimmunological parameters. Psychological conditions were measured using a Visual Analog Scale. Parasympathetic activity tended to increase and sympathetic activity decrease after footbaths.


RESULTS
Changes in the relaxation indices, that is, sIgA and serum cortisol levels showed that both lying down and footbath resulted in a relaxed state.


CONCLUSIONS
WW Footbaths can be an effective method of relaxation, since it induces both a significant increase in parasympathetic activity and significant decrease in sympathetic activity.
Yamamoto
K
K
School of Medicine, College of Nursing, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. keilui@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Aso
Y
Y
Nagata
S
S
Kasugai
K
K
Maeda
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D001494:Baths; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005528:Foot; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System
D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D006854:Hydrocortisone