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Published on: January 16, 2014
Physiological effects of Therapeutic Body Wraps in healthy volunteers: An observational study
Natalya Korogod1, Krzysztof Skuza1, Gilles Bangerter1
1School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), Avenue de Beaumont 21, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Introduction:
The clinical management of severe anxiety is challenging. Along with specific medication, several nonpharmacological treatments exist, among which the Therapeutic Body Wraps (TBW). While TBW is clinically known to be efficient, the absence of objective physiological measurements raised some debates about its harmlessness.
Aims:
This observational study investigated TBW in healthy volunteers.
Methods:
Measurements were done in 26 participants, who experienced TBW, which consisted of tightly wrapping the body in one layer of wet cold sheets and several warm blankets. These were compared to 13 participants, who rested in supine position.
Results:
Our results showed increase in the trunk skin temperature by the end of TBW similar to rest. Somatosensory perception as assessed with quantitative sensory testing was stable after both TBW and rest. The heart and breath rates decreased both during TBW and rest. It was accompanied by increase in heart rate variability parameters and decrease in salivary cortisol levels.
Discussion:
Our data indicate anxiolytic effect of TBW in healthy participants.
Implications For Practice:
The TBW is harmless and might be used in patients, who are unable to relax by themselves and/or without anxiolytic medication. Further studies are necessary to investigate physiological response to TBW in clinical population.
