Compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4), is the most studied cranial technique, commonly used by Osteopathy in Cranial Field practitioners. Evidence attributed to CV4 some effects on nervous system functions, however, the supporting evidence for CV4 clinical benefits is promising but still poor. The osteopathic tradition considers the sacrum linked to the cranium through anatomical and functional connections. To our knowledge, no studies explored the potential effect of a sacral technique on brain activity as an indicator of a neurophysiological connection between the occiput and sacrum. This study aims to explore this effect by measuring the alpha-band activity during the application of a sacral technique (ST) compared to the CV4 application.
Forty healthy volunteers will receive a combination of CV4 technique, CV4 sham, sacral technique (ST) and sacral sham technique (sST). Each session, split by a 4-hour washout, will start with 10 min of no treatment (resting state), followed by two randomized interventions. Alpha EEG will be continuously recorded during each intervention and 10 min after, for a total of approximately 50-60 min per session.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
46
The osteopath was sitting at the head of the examination table, with the subject lying supine. The osteopath approximated with the hands the lateral angles of the occipital squama, taking the cranium into sustained extension. The technique ended when the osteopath perceived the still point, a condition in which the balanced membranous or ligamentous tension is achieved.
The subject was lying in the supine position, while the osteopath positioned the index and middle fingers of the caudal hand on either side of the subject's sacrum. Then establishes a point of balance between the coccyx and the vertex facilitating the sacral extension until the achievement of the still point
the sham intervention was performed by placing the hands in the same position as the corresponding active technique, applying a light touch
The sham intervention was performed by placing the hands in the same position as the corresponding active technique, applying a light touch
Centro di Medicina Osteopatica
Milan, Italy
Alpha EEG
Quantitative EEG recording of alpha wave (8-12Hz)
Time frame: 50 minutes
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