Impact of osteopathic tests on heart rate and heart rate variability: an observational study on osteopathic students

Osteopathic listening tests are diagnostic tools utilized in manual therapies, but their impact on physiological markers of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), remains unclear. This study examines these effects to clarify the role of listening tests within osteopathic practice.

This study aims to evaluate the influence of osteopathic listening tests on HR and HRV markers, including the root mean square of successive differences (rMSSD) and the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, in healthy participants, and to contextualize the findings within existing osteopathic research on ANS modulation.

51 osteopathic students were randomized into three groups: (1) an osteopathic test group (OTG) receiving listening tests; (2) a light pressure group (LPG) experiencing non-therapeutic light pressure; and (3) a control group (CG) receiving no intervention. Measurements of HR, rMSSD, and LF/HF ratio were collected during the first and last 30 s of the protocol utilizing validated software. Data from 48 participants were analyzed after excluding artifacts.

No significant changes in HR, rMSSD, or LF/HF ratio were observed in any group during the protocol. For OTG, the HR changed minimally (69.17 ± 9.58 beats per minute [bpm] to 69.10 ± 10.24 bpm; p=0.884), while the rMSSD and LF/HF ratio also showed no significant alterations (p=0.064 and p=0.106, respectively). Similar null findings were observed in the LPG and CG, suggesting that neither osteopathic tests nor light pressure induced measurable effects on the ANS markers chosen.

This study found no evidence that osteopathic listening tests influence HR or HRV markers in healthy participants. Although listening tests serve as diagnostic tools for identifying somatic dysfunctions, they do not appear to exert therapeutic effects on ANS regulation. These findings contrast with previous studies on osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which have demonstrated significant modulation of ANS activity. Future studies should investigate the differential effects of diagnostic tests and therapeutic techniques to better define the scope of the osteopathic interventions.