Can myofascial techniques modify immunological parameters?

Abstract

Objectives: The objective was to determine the effect of myofascial techniques on the modulation of immunological variables. Design: Thirty-nine healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Interventions: The experimental group underwent three manual therapy modalities: suboccipital muscle release, so-called fourth intracranial ventricle compression, and deep cervical fascia release. The control group remained in a resting position for the same time period under the same environmental conditions.Outcome Measures: Changes in counts of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, and Natural Killer cells (as immunological markers) between baseline and 20 minutes post-intervention. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant time x groups interaction [F (1, 35)=9.33; p= 0.004] for CD19. There were no significant time x group interaction effects on CD3, CD4, CD8, or Natural Killer cell counts. Intra-subject analyses showed a higher CD19 count in the experimental group post-intervention versus baseline (t=-4.02; p=0.001)], with no changes in the control group (t=0.526; p=0.608). Conclusion: A major immunological modulation, with an increased B lymphocyte count, was observed at 20 minutes after the application of craniocervical myofascial induction techniques.