Can a Novel Manual Therapy Technique Help Relieve Stress? Assessing Effects of Primal Reflex Release on the Body's Stress Response

University of Idaho

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Psychological Stress

Treatments: Other: Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06305585

IRB# 23-214

Details and patient eligibility

About

Stress, when left unmanaged, can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health, contributing to conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and even cardiovascular disease. Effective stress management therapies may help maintain overall well-being and reduce the risk of long-term health complications. The Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) is a novel manual therapy that may reduce markers related to stress such as heart rate variability (HRV) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to elucidate the potential for PRRT to improve HRV and PROs.

Full description

This randomized, controlled experimental intervention study evaluates acute impacts of a reflex-targeted manual therapy called Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) on cardiovascular indices of stress and sympathetic tone. After consenting and baseline characteristics, subjects are allocated to receive either the PRRT or the control condition.

Continuous electrocardiography (ECG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) monitoring will be used to track heart rate variability (HRV) changes across three phases:

1. Pre-intervention during a 5-minute video of aquatic nature scenes to establish resting baseline
2. 5 minutes of a practitioner administering targeted spinal manipulation PRRT protocol in the treatment group to stimulate innate protective reflexes OR continued relaxation video viewing for control group
3. Post-intervention repeat of the standardized video to assess changes after PRRT session without ongoing manipulation

The PRRT targets precise anatomical locations and neural pathways including stimulating facial muscles, upper spinal reflexes and traction of the suboccipital muscles. Brief, reversible sensations will occur without expected harm or lasting effects.

Psychological state assessed via paper mood scales pre/post tracks subjective stress correlates. Analysis using linear mixed effects models contrast whether indices of cardiovascular reactivity and psychological responses shift acutely with PRRT versus control video. Findings could provide physiological validation for integration as stress-alleviating treatment.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Subject can refrain from caffeinated beverages in the 6 hours prior to data collection
• Subject is not currently taking any beta blockers
• Subject is comfortable with a manual therapy technique where the clinician touches your face and head

Exclusion criteria

• Subject has had caffeine within 6 hours
• Subject is currently taking any beta blockers

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Primal Reflex Release Technique

Experimental group

Description:

The subject will lay on their back with their eyes closed. Palmar Reflex Release The subject will actively raise arms overhead (palm facing the floor) with a pen squeezed between their fingers. Epicranial Release The clinician will grasp the subject's hair near the front of the hairline with one hand, just above the ear on the right side and gently pull. Frontalis Release The clinician will instruct the subject to raise their eyebrows and keep them raised. The clinician will use their thumbs to gently flick downward on the inside portion of the subject's eyebrows. Orbicularis Oculi Release The clinician will place their thumb below the eye resting on the cheek bone and with the other hand will lightly rest on the subject's eyelid The clinician will then gently and lightly attempt to quickly open the subject's eyelids Suboccipital Release The participant will rest their head in clinicians hands while they provide a slight traction at the base of the skull

Treatment:

Other: Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT)

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

For the control, the subject will watch another 5-minute video of fish in an aquarium.