Abstract



Effects of Craniosacral Therapy on Physical and Psychological Stress in Middle-Aged Women




Lim, Su-yeon
Graduate School of Health and Medical Science,
Daejeon University
Supervising professor : Kwang-Jo, Jeong
In this study, 10 middle-aged women aged from 35 to 60 living in Daejeon city were experimented. The experimental group who received craniosacral therapy and comparison group who naturally rests consist of 10 people, respectively. A total of 8 sessions, two sessions a week, were conducted in 4 weeks, from August 10 to September 10, 2016.
The experimental group received craniosacral therapy for 60 minutes and the comparison group was allowed to rest for 60 minutes in a free posture. For the data collection of the two groups, questionnaires such as social psychology, physical and psychological stress, and visual analog scale were performed before and after the experiment. Cumulative stress was measured before and after each experiment using a pulse wave meter. After the end of the experiment, satisfaction was surveyed through questionnaires.
The data analysis was conducted using SPSS WIN 19.0. The general characteristics of the subjects were examined through frequency analysis and percentage, homogeneity test through independent sample t-test, and stress and satisfaction through matching sample. The reliability of the instrument was verified by Cronbach''s α and the significance level of the instrument was p <.05.
The results of this study are as follows.
In the pre- and post-difference test in experimental group, while there was a significant difference in pile-up stress(p <.001), parasympathetic nerve activity (p <.001), autonomic nerve balance(p <.05), social psychological stress(p <.01), psychological stress(p <.05), physical stress(p<.001) and visual analogue scale(p <.001), there was no significant difference in sympathetic nerve activity(p> .05).
While there was no significant difference in the post-difference verification of pile-up stress(p>.05) and sympathetic nerve activity(p>.05) between the experimental group and the control group, parasympathetic nerve activity(p<.05), autonomic nerve balance(p>.05), social psychological stress(p<.001), psychological stress(p<.001), physical stress(p<.001), visual analogue scale(p<.001), and the satisfaction after experiment(p<.001) of the experimental group showed significant difference to those of control group.
This study identified the effect of the craniosacral therapy on the physical and psychological stress relief of middle-aged women and the professional utilization of the therapy as a complementary alternative therapy to aesthetic program and manual therapy is considered to be high.



Keyword: craniosacral therapy, stress, autonomic nerve