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Research: MOSER and colleagues, Ohi
Listed in Issue 28
Abstract
MOSER and colleagues, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA write that advanced heart failure involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous and intense vasoconstriction. Conditions with similar physiological features have been treated successfully with biofeedback-relaxation techniques. The authors set out to discover if conscious control of skin temperature using biofeedback-relaxation could cause vasodilation and change haemodynamic status and circulating catecholamines in patients suffering with heart failure. @m:METHODS: 45 patients with advanced heart failure were randomly assigned to either a treatment or a control group. The treatment group had one session of skin-temperature biofeedback augmented by imagery of hand warmth and modified progressive muscle relaxation. Skin temperature, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine, oxygen consumption, respiratory rate and pulmonary wedge pressure were measured prior to and following the biofeedback session. The same measurements were carried out in the controls, except that they were not given instruction in biofeedback-relaxation. @r: At baseline, treatment and control groups had similar clinical profiles. Compared to the control group who showed no changes in any of the following parameters, patients in the treatment group showed the following changes: 1) increase in skin temperature in the finger and foot; 2) increased cardiac output; 3) decreased systemic vascular resistance; 4) decreased respiratory rate. The treatment group did not show any changes in catecholamine levels or oxygen consumption. @c: Despite marked vasoconstriction in advanced heart failure patients, a single biofeedback-relaxation session can produce an increase in finger temperature and cardiac output and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and respiratory rate, apparently without affecting systemic levels of catecholamines or oxygen consumption.
Background
Methodology
Results
Conclusion
References
Moser DK et al. Voluntary control of vascular tone by using skin-temperature biofeedback-relaxation in patients with advanced heart failure. Altern Ther Health Med 3(1): 51-9. Jan 1997.
