Issue 24-1, 2025
Original article
The Effect of Myofascial Release on Heart Rate Variability in Subjects with Autonomic Dysfunction: a Randomized Controlled Trial
1,* Tatiana V. Kazantseva, 2
Olga I. Kolomiets
1 Olympia Life Educational Center, Chelyabinsk, Russia
2 Ural State University of Physical Culture, Chelyabinsk, Russia
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION. Autonomic dysfunction (AD) is characterized by changes in the afferent or efferent components of sympathetic and parasympathetic neural control that are associated with pathological conditions. Heart rate variability (HRV), as one of the key indicators of autonomic regulation, is known to be associated with many chronic diseases and mortality. Thus, interventions aimed at improving autonomic regulation and increasing HRV are important for public health. Myofascial release (MFR) — a form of self-massage aimed at relieving tension, reducing pain, and increasing range of motion, can have a positive effect on autonomic regulation.
AIM. To evaluate the effects of a physical rehabilitation complex using myofascial release on HRV in individuals with AD based on Firstbeat-monitoring.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. For this randomized controlled trial, 128 subjects with AD, having a dominant influence of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, were selected and randomly divided into two groups: MFR (
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION It was found that physical rehabilitation programs in individuals with AD contributed to an increase in the temporal parameters of HRV: mean square deviation of differences between the intervals in the MFR group (
CONCLUSION. The application of myofascial release as part of a physical rehabilitation program can facilitate changes in certain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), reducing sympathetic activity and increasing parasympathetic activity in individuals with AD
KEYWORDS: myofascial release, autonomic dysfunction, rehabilitation, heart rate variability
FOR CITATION:
Kazantseva T.V., Kolomiets O.I. The effect of myofascial release on heart rate variability in subjects with autonomic dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2025; 24(1): 39–46. https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-1-39-46 (In Russ.).
FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Tatiana V. Kazantseva, Е-mail: olimpialife@list.ru
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This is an open article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by the National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology.