Purpose: In this study, we investigated physical and psychological effects of the shiatsu (finger pressure) stimulation in a sitting position. Subjects and Methods: A crossover test was conducted on 20 subjects (average 34.5 ± 7.6 years old; male = 10, female = 10). First they were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (shiatsu stimulation/control) and group B (control/shiatsu stimulation). They had shiatsu stimulation ( Namikoshi basic methods in the sitting position, five minutes). At the same time, POMS (profile of mood states), SBP (systolic blood pressure, DBP (diastolic blood pressure) and HR (heart rate) were measured. Results: Physical result—Compared to the baseline, the shiatsu stimulation showed statistical decreased SBP and HR while the control (no shiatsu stimulation) did not. Psychological result (POMS)— Compared to the baseline, the stimulation showed significant change in all six mood states (Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Fatigue and Confusion decreased while Vigor elevated). Male showed statistical decrease in Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Dejection, Anger, Fatigue and Confusion as well as significant increase in Vigor. Female only showed decrease in Depression-Dejection and Anger. Discussion and Conclusion: The shiatsu stimulation in the sitting position could modulate autonomic nerve system and it could affect human body. Gender differences were found in physiological effect.
Shiatsu therapy, finger pressure stimulation, is the application of manual pressure to the skin. Its origin can be found in traditional Chinese/Japanese medicine and it was established by Tokujiro Namikoshi in the first half of last century [
There are many evidences on medicine of acupuncture therapy as well as acupuncture-like stimulations. The former is inserted subcutaneously while the latter just give soft pressure on a very small area of the skin (diameter 5.0 mm) [
Researchers reported that shiatsu stimulation worked for sleep disorders [
Participants were 20 physically and mentally healthy students. Our subjects were elder than or equal to 20 years old without diseases. Their profile is shown in
All participants were informed of the purpose and nature of the experiments; then a written consent was obtained from each participant, in compliance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
Subjects (n) | Male (10) | Female (10) | Total (20) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Number (%) Age Marriage ± | 10 (50.0) 33.4 ± 7.0 3/7 | 10 (50.0) 35.6 ± 8.7 5/5 | 20 (100.0) 34.5 ± 7.6 8/12 | |
One group received shiatsu stimulation in the first experiment session and then received no shiatsu stimulation in the second session (Group A). The other group completed sessions in a reverse sequence (Group B).
(1) internally press sternocleidomastoid with (a) as shown in (d), (2) press from the lower edge of mastoid part of the temporal bone to C6 with (c) (three times), (3) press the hollow of the nape with (a) (three times), (4) press three points (from the middle of mastoid and 3) to the C7 level) with (c) (three times) (f), (5) press the center of temporal region with (b), (6) press both shoulders with (a) at the same time (three times), (7) press five points with (a) (from Th 1 level to Th 7 level) (g) (h), (8) stroke shoulders with (b) (two times) and then, (9) stroke the spinal column with (b) (two times).
was obtained from all subjects and the study was approved by the institutional review board of Tokyo Professional School of Medical and Welfare (Tokyo, Japan).
The shiatsu stimulation (Namikoshi basic methods of shiatsu in the sitting position, five minutes) was conducted as below (
The experiments were conducted in a room with the temperature set at 24.4˚C ± 1.1˚C and 57.7% ± 12.1% humidity throughout the experimental sessions.
Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at the same time with an arm-cuff blood pressure monitor (HEM-7132, OMRON Corporation, Kyoto, Japan).
To investigate mood states, participants also completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) [
The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were conducted and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The values presented ere expressed as range as well as mean ± SD. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).
Compared to the baseline, the shiatsu stimulation showed statistical decreased SBP and HR (p < 0.01) while the control (no shiatsu stimulation) did not
And then they were divided into two groups by gender, however, no statistical difference were obtained in each group (
Compared to the baseline shiatsu stimulation showed significant change in all six mood states (T-A, D, A-H, F and C, p < 0.01; V, p < 0.05). At that time, the control (without shiatsu stimulation) did not indicate such chances except in the A-H (p < 0.01) (
Next gender differences were examined. Male (blue color) showed the same changes as above mentioned (T-A, D, V, F and C; p < 0.01; A-H, p < 0.05). At that time, female (red color) indicated nominal decrease in only in two areas of D and A-H (p < 0.01). Thus, gender differences were observed in psychological effect (POMS).
Our result indicated that the shiatsu stimulation decreased SBP and HR. Our result indicated that the shiatsu stimulation decreased SBP and HR.
First, we may find one reason in the baroceptor reflex (via glossopharyngeal nerve IX―solitary nucleus in the medulla―vagal nerve X). It provides a rapid negative feedback to hypertension and modulates blood pressure and heart rate induced by excessive sympathetic nerve dominance [
Our result indicated that the shiatsu stimulation influenced on POMS, a psychological test. After the shiatsu stimulation the results of all and male showed that negative mood states (T-A, D, A-H, F and C) while the positive state (V) increase. The former states were mainly controlled by sympathetic nervous system (SN) while the latter state was largely influenced by parasympathetic nerve system (PN).
The interest was that the control group nominally showed decrease in the negative mood state of A-H. Nowadays half of Japanese people suffer from stress [
The shiatsu group showed statistical decreased SBP (systolic blood pressure) and HR (heart rate) after the shiatsu stimulation (p < 0.01) while the other group did not. DBP (diastolic blood pressure) did not show such difference. ?: control, ●: shiatsu stimulation, data are mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.
The shiatsu group showed significant change in all six mood states [T-A (tension?anxiety), D (depression?dejection), A-H (anger?hostility), V (vigor), F (fatigue), and C (confusion)]. (T-A, D, A-H, F and C, p < 0.01; V, p < 0.05). At that time, the control group did not indicate such chances except in the A-H. Male (blue color) showed statistic changes (T-A, D, V, F and C; p < 0.01; A-H, p < 0.05). Female (red color) indicated nominal decrease only in D and A-H (p < 0.01). ?: control, ●: shiatsu stimulation, data are mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.
Our results also indicated gender differences because female indicated differences only in D and A-H. As those negative mood states were possibly caused by sympathetic nerve dominance which was induced by stress [
In this way, the effects of shiatsu stimulation have gender differences on subject. In further study, we have to also discuss on gender difference of therapists.
Thus, our results showed that the shiatsu stimulation in the sitting position for five minutes indicated both physiological and psychological effects.
However, there are limitations. Our application was given in the sitting position. Nishijyo reported, different in efficiencies were observed in the different positions [
The shiatsu stimulation indicated both physiological and psychological effects. The pathway of those effects might be induced by decreasing SN/increasing PN. Gender differences were found in physiological effect.
The authors thank all of the subjects who participated in this study.
Oki, S., Ouchi, K., Watanabe, M. and Mandai, N. (2017) Physical and Psychological Effects of the Shiatsu Stimulation in the Sitting Position. Health, 9, 1264-1272. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2017.98091