Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate physiological effects of footbath (FB) on cardiovascular and autonomic nervous functions. These were evaluated by heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), skin temperature (T), skin blood flow (F), heart rate variability (HRV) and baro-reflex sensitivity (BRS), during and after FB in a supine position. Low frequency spectra (LF) and high frequency spectra (HF) were calculated from HRV, and the index of sympathetic nervous activity was LF/HF and parasympathetic nervous activity was HF. Nineteen healthy male students (mean age = 21.3±3.4 years) took FB (40℃) after a rest in supine position. Time protocol of FB : 15 min rest → 15 min FB → 30 min rest (0 -15 min after FB-1, 15-30 min after FB-2). The results are shown below. HR showed significant decrease after FB-1 and 2. Systolic and diastolic BP showed significant decrease after FB-2. HF showed significant increase after FB-1 and 2. LF/HF showed significant increase during FB. BRS showed significant increase after FB-1. Foot T, chest T and foot F showed significant increase during FB, and maintained the levels after FB-1 and 2. In conclusion, it was confirmed that FB activated peripheral circulation without over load against the cardiovascular system. Then, FB controlled autonomic nervous balance, and activated parasympathetic nervous activity. These might be cause the effects of relaxation and sleep induction.
