Assessing the Effect of Automated Thermo-Mechanical Therapy on Abdominal Blood Flow With Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Thermal and mechanical tissue stimulation is widely utilized in various medical contexts, particularly to enhance local circulation, alleviate pain, and restore movement. Techniques to objectively quantify the physiological effects of these interventions support therapeutic efficacy and explain clinical benefits. Here we conducted a pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to provide an objective assessment of acute treatment effects in enhancing blood flow. Subjects ( $$ ) received an MRI flow quantification scan of the abdominal aorta before and immediately after undergoing a 20-min thermo-mechanical massage delivered to the lumbar spine by a commercial automated device. We report a significant increase of 27% in the peak velocity of blood flow following treatment. There were no significant changes in the volume of the imaged vessel, in mean heart rate, or heart rate variability (HRV), which is consistent with direct local effects of therapy on circulation. These findings are consistent with the potential utility of MRI in detecting and quantifying regional increases in blood flow following thermo-mechanical stimulation.