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2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Study about the effects of footbath on immune functions and autonomic nervous system and its usefulness.

Research Project

Project/Area Number 15592241
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Fundamental nursing
Research InstitutionBunka Women's University (2004-2005)
Nagano College of Nursing (2003)

Principal Investigator

NAGAI Nobuo  Bunka Women's University, Faculty of Fashion Science, Associate Professor, 服装学部, 助教授 (80207969)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) SAEKI Yuka  Fukuoka Prefectural University, School of Nursing, Professor, 看護学部, 教授 (70211927)
Project Period (FY) 2003 – 2005
Keywordsfootbath / autonomic nervous system / immune function / natural killer cell
Research Abstract

Objectives : Footbath has long been used for the relief of fatigue, common cold and minor symptoms and it has been known that footbath can influence human body and the mind. This study was designed to investigate the effect of footbath on autonomic nerve and immune functions.
Methods : Ten healthy female subjects (21-24 years of age) volunteered to participate in the present study. They experienced three different tests on the three different days ; only sitting without soaking their feet (Control), a footbath with soaking their feet in hot water at 42℃ (FB), and a footbath with soaking their feet in hot water at 42℃ with air-bubble and vibration given to the sole of the feet (B+V) for 10 min. Autonomic functions were evaluated by measuring electrocardiogram (ECG) and skin blood flow (BF) of sural region and spectral analysis of heart rate variability. As immune function, leukocytes subsets and lymphocytes subsets were measured three times ; before, immediately and at 60 min after footbath, using flow cytometric analysis. Cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against K562 was determined by europium-release assay.
Results and Discussion : BF increased significantly during B+V, but returned to the before level immediately after the end of the footbath. In spectral analysis, high frequency component (HFC) increased and a ratio of low frequency component (LFC)/HFC decreased following usual footbath or B+V, indicating increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic nervous systems. A number of lymphocytes and NK cells cytotoxicity increased significantly after B+V. These results suggested that footbath might induce physiological relaxed condition in autonomic nervous system. Furthermore, footbath with air-bubble and vibration increased NK cells cytotoxicity according to an increase in parasympathetic nervous system. We thought that footbath with mechanical stimulation would be an efficacious method in physical improvement.

  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All 2006 2004 Other

All Journal Article (8 results)

  • [Journal Article] Effects of Footbath on Autonomic Nervous System, Leukocyte Subsets Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity.2006

    • Author(s)
      N.Nagai, Y.Saeki
    • Journal Title

      28^th International Congress on Occupational Health (発表予定,印刷中)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 自律神経・免疫機能に及ぼす足への体性感覚刺激の効果2004

    • Author(s)
      佐伯由香, 永井伸夫
    • Journal Title

      日本看護学会誌 27・3

      Pages: 144

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of somatic stimulation applied to feet on autonomic and immune functions.2004

    • Author(s)
      Y.Saeki, N.Nagai
    • Journal Title

      VIII Encuentro de Investigation en Enfermeria

      Pages: 326-327

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 起泡・振動付き足浴の自律神経・免疫機能に及ぼす効果2004

    • Author(s)
      佐伯由香, 永井伸夫, 菱沼典子
    • Journal Title

      看護人間工学研究誌 5

      Pages: 11-16

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of somatic stimulation applied to feet on autonomic and immune system.2004

    • Author(s)
      Yuka SAEKI, Nobuo NAGAI
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Japanese Society of Nursing Research 27(3)

      Pages: 144

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of somatic stimulation applied to feet on autonomic and immune functions.2004

    • Author(s)
      Yuka SAEKI, Nobuo NAGAI
    • Journal Title

      VIII Encuentro de Investigacion en Enfermeria (Proceeding)

      Pages: 326-327

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effect of foot-bath with bubble and vibration on autonomic and immune functions.2004

    • Author(s)
      Yuka SAEKI, Nobuo NAGAI, Noriko HISHINUMA
    • Journal Title

      The Japanese Journal of Nursing Ergonomics 5

      Pages: 11-16

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Effects of Footbath on Autonomic Nervous System, Leukocyte Subsets and Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity.

    • Author(s)
      Nobuo NAGAI, Yuka SAEKI
    • Journal Title

      28^<th> International Congress on Occupational Health (Proceeding) (in press)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2007-12-13  

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