Use of beat-to-beat cardiovascular variability data to determine the validity of sham therapy as the placebo control in osteopathic manipulative medicine research

Charles E. Henley, Thad E. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Osteopathic manipulative medicine researchers often use sham therapy as the placebo control during clinical trials. Optimally, the sham therapy should be a hands-on procedure that is perceptually indistinguishable from osteopathic manipulative treatment, does not create an effect on its own, and is not a treatment intervention. However, the sham therapy itself may often influence the outcome. The use of cardiovascular variability (eg, beat-to-beat heart rate variability) as a surrogate for the autonomic nervous system is one objective method by which to identify such an effect. By monitoring cardiovascular variability, investigators can assess autonomic nervous system activity as a response to the sham therapy and quickly determine whether or not the selected sham therapy is a true placebo control.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)860-866
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Osteopathic Association
Volume114
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Osteopathic Association.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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