Change of skin electrical activity during osteopathic correction with the use of biodynamical approach
Authors: Novikov Yu. O. , Shaiakhmetov A. R. , Musina G. M. 
Published: July 2019

Introduction.In connection with the widespread introduction of osteopathy into practical medicine, new facts confi rming its effectiveness are appearing. These facts need theoretical justifi cation. The biodynamic approach is the least studied and scientifi cally proven approach in osteopathy. There are only a few works describing the benefi cial effects of this type of treatment on the autonomic nervous system based on an assessment of heart rate variability. One of the most sensitive indicators of changes in the state of the body is the electrical activity of the skin (EAS), which is widely used in modern polygraphic devices.

Goal of research— to investigate the EAS in the physician and in the patient during the session of craniosacral biodynamics (CSB).

Materials and methods.The study involved 32 patients who were randomly divided into 2 groups — control group (10 patients) and main group (22 patients). In the control group there were 8 women and 2 men aged from 20 to 65 years (mean age 42±20 years). In the main group, 16 women and 6 men aged from 18 to 68 years (mean age 40±16 years) were examined. Two professional certifi ed computerized polygraphs «Chris» were used, simultaneously recording the EAS values of the doctor and the patient. In the main group, the background indicators were recorded at the fi rst stage (10 minutes), then the procedure of the CSB, which lasted 20 minutes, was recordered. The control group was used only for registration of EAS. At the same time, patients were in the same conditions as in the main group.

Results.During the CSB, the state of both the doctor (p<0,001) and the patient (p<0,001) has changed signifi cantly. At the same time, the tendency of changes in individual indicators of EAS in patients during treatment was logical. The altered state of the physician practically did not depend on its original level (p>0,05). However, there was a high relationship between the states of the doctor during contact and non-contact treatment (correlation coeffi cient 0,80, p<0,001). The patient′s initial condition had a moderate, statistically signifi cant relationship with his condition during the treatment (p<0,001). Since the beginning of the craniosacral biodynamics, the patient′s condition has hardly changed. At the same time, the contactless impact on the patient′s body was comparable with the contact effect (correlation coeffi cient 0,97, p<0,001). There was no signifi cant relationship between the states of the physician and the patient before the beginning of the treatment (correlation coeffi cient 0,18, p>0,05). However, in the process of craniosacral biodynamics, a statistically signifi cant relationship was formed between them with a correlation coeffi cient for non-contact exposure equal to 0,49 (p<0,01) and for contact exposure — 0,34 (p<0,05). Biodynamic treatment statistically signifi cantly improved the state of the autonomic nervous system.

Conclusion.The study of the electrical activity of the skin in craniosacral biodynamics is a highly informative method, which allows to verify and quantify the changes occurring in the patient and in the physician during the treatment.