A study of the effect of osteopathic technique on brain wave activity using electroencephalographic equipment

Michael Boyd                                                 Supervisor: Nico Tanguy

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Limited research has been conducted into the physiological effects of cranial osteopathic treatment. Other studies have used heart rate, respiration rate, skin resistance and skin temperature, and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity to measure change in the body. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an osteopathic technique has a significant effect on brain wave activity as measured by EEG equipment.

Design: Block design with repeated measures

Subjects and setting: Twenty (20) asymptomatic subjects (nine male, eleven female; aged 22-50) participated in this experimental study conducted at the London School of Osteopathy, United Kingdom

Interventions: Subjects were exposed to five phases consisting of an initial baseline (no contact), touch only, compression of the fourth ventricle technique (CV4), touch only, and a final baseline recording (no contact).

Outcome measures: Brain wave activity was recorded using portable EEG equipment in the frequency range of 0 Hz to 38 Hz, with amplitude change analysed between phases using non-parametric statistical tests at a significance of p<0.05.

Results: The results of this study showed significant decrease in brain wave amplitude (p<0.05) in the higher alpha and beta frequency ranges of brain wave activity (10.5 Hz to 38 Hz). This change was attributed to the touch and technique phases of the study. It was not possible to identify if this change was specifically due to application of the CV4 technique.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a combination of touch and cranial osteopathic technique is responsible for a decrease in brain wave activity, primarily in the frequency ranges associated with active nervous system function. Further research is required to conclude whether this change can be directly attributed to osteopathic technique. While the potential for a simultaneous decrease in nervous system activity affecting the whole body is explored, further research is required to quantify this effect.

Key words: Osteopathy, cranial manipulation, cranial osteopathy, cranial technique, brain waves, EEG, CV4, nervous system