Study of the Relaxation Effect of Shiatsu（Finger Pressure Therapy）on Hands and Fingers

Abstract

  The purpose of this study is to verify that a relaxation effect is acquired by the operation of shiatsu（finger pressure therapy）on hands and fingers. Subjects are healthy adult females in twenties and thirties. After the administration of POMS（Profile of Mood State）Brief, the subjects were kept in resting supine position for 10 minutes, and then the shiatsu was operated from right and left fingers to brachial regions for 10 minutes. From 10 minutes before to 15 minutes after the shiatsu operation, skin temperature of both legs and heart rate were measured, and then the POMS was re-administered at the end. Analyses were conducted by comparing statistically the changes in the skin temperature and the heart rate, and by comparing the POMS points before and after the shiatsu operation by a paired t-test. In the results, the skin temperature was decreased at all measuring points just after the shiatsu operation, and then was increased gradually except for peripheral sites. The heart rate was decreased just after the operation for 10 minutes. For the POMS, the decrease of the points was recognized after the operation（p < 0.05）in the four items；T-A（Tension-Anxiety）, D（Depression-Dejection）, F（Fatigue）, and C（Confusion）. Thus, the shiatsu operation was confirmed to show the relaxation effect.