Changes of Autonomic Nervous Function after Foot Bathing in Normal Adults.

, Kim, Hyun Dong; , Do, Hyun Kyung; , Um, Mi Ja

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2010;34(1):74-78.

Kim, Hyun Dong , Do, Hyun Kyung , Um, Mi Ja

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Korea.
²Yangsan City Wondong-myeon Public Health Subcenter, Korea. gloomysund03@naver.com

정상 성인에서 족욕 전후의 자율신경 기능의 변화

김 현 동, 도 현 경¹, 엄 미 자

인제대학교 의과대학 부산백병원 재활의학교실, ¹양산시 원동면 보건지소

Abstract

Objective
To monitor the changes of autonomic nervous function before and after foot bathing through autonomic function tests using electrophysiological instrument.
Method
Twenty five healthy adults took a foot bathing through popular 'foot bath' for 30 minutes at 43^oC. Autonomic tests were performed three times before foot bathing, immediately and 15 minutes after foot bathing. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) and blood pressure after sustained grip for sympathetic tone, heart rate variation during deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver for parasympathetic tone (Expiratory/Inspiratory (E/I) ratio, Valsalva ratio) were measured.
Results
SSR amplitudes in one hand decreased significantly during foot bathing (p＜0.05) and did not return to their initial levels within 15 minutes after foot bathing. But, blood pressure after sustained grip, E/I ratio and Valsalva ratio did not show statistical difference (p＞0.05).
Conclusion
Heat therapy through foot bathing in normal adults reduced sudomotor response to electrical stimuli, which can be considered as reduction of specific sympathetic nervous function. We propose that foot bathing could be promising one of partial heat therapies for pain without cardiovascular complications unlike conventional whole body bathing. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2010; 34: 74-78)

Key Words: Baths, Autonomic nervous system, Galvanic skin response, Heart rate, Blood pressure