Issue 24-1, 2025

Original article

https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-1-39-46

The Effect of Myofascial Release on Heart Rate Variability in Subjects with Autonomic Dysfunction: a Randomized Controlled Trial

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1,* ORCID Tatiana V. Kazantseva, 2 ORCID 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 (n = 64) and control (n = 64). Both groups were given a physical rehabilitation program, including aerobic exercises, flexibility exercises, and breathing exercises. The MFR group, in addition to the main program, was exposed to self-massage. The study lasted for 12 weeks. Before and after the study, HRV was recorded in the time and frequency domains using the Firstbeat device (Finland).

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 (p = 0.001), in the control group (p = 0.039); standard deviation of the mean interval in the MFR group (p = 0.000), in the control group (p = 0.012). Also, after physical rehabilitation programs, a change in the parameters of the frequency domain of HRV was observed: an increase in the total power in the MFR group (p = 0.006), in the control group (p = 0.014); an increase in the power in the high-frequency range in the MFR group (p = 0.008), in the control group (p = 0.016); a decrease in the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power in the MFR group (p = 0.013), in the control group (p = 0.038).

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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