Mechanical Stimulation of the Lower Extremities with a Textile-Based Pneumatic Massager Increases Parasympathetic Activity Index and Lowers Blood Glucose Levels

• Published in: Journal of Fiber Science and Technology 2024, Vol.80(2), pp.23-32
• Main Authors: Hatakeyama, Nozomi, Sakurai, Takashi, Ohto-Fujita, Eri, Atomi, Tomoaki, Shimizu, Miho, Atomi, Yoriko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: autonomic nervous system; compression device; heart rate variability; pneumatic massage; postprandialhyperglycemia
• ISSN: 2189-7654; 2189-7654
• DOI: 10.2115/fiberst.2024-0004

Sedentary lifestyles have increased the incidence of type II diabetes, one of the major risk factors for venous circulation problems in the extremities and ultimately death. In this study we have investigated its effect on relaxation and postprandial hyperglycemia by a textile-based pneumatic massager with a polyester cuff. Feeling good has an impact on the body. However, the relationship between mechanical stimulation of the lower extremities in a reproducible manner and physiological indices such as Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and biochemical indices that can be quantitatively evaluated was not clear. A pneumatic massager with a polyester cuff was applied to the lower extremities of 20 healthy adults (31.5 ± 7.0 years old). A 10-minute massage was performed at the intensity that the subjects had previously reported as comfortable. Heart rate and HRV at rest and after exercise was measured. In addition, a glucose tolerance test was performed on 7 subjects of middle age and older (39.6 ± 11 years old), who were massaged for 2 hours to determine the effect of the pneumatic massager on blood glucose clearance in the resting sitting position. The HRV, an index of parasympathetic nerve activity at rest, increased significantly after 10 minutes of use of the lower extremity pneumatic massager, and there was a trend toward faster recovery of the HRV after exercise. In addition, blood glucose levels at 30 minutes after glucose loading were significantly decreased by pneumatic massage. The present study has demonstrated that the use of pneumatic massager, used while desk working, for a short period of time assists relaxation by decreasing heart rate and promoting parasympathetic activation as indicated by HRV, and effective in decreasing the rise in blood glucose levels.