KINESIOLOGICAL MASSAGE AS A MODULATOR OF THE CENTRAL AUTONOMIC NETWORK ACTIVITY: NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL SUBSTANTIATION OF EFFECTIVENESS IN STRESS-INDUCED AUTONOMIC IMBALANCE

Chronic occupational stress in healthcare workers leads to autonomic imbalance. Kinesiological massage demonstrates clinical efficacy in its correction, but the neurophysiological mechanisms mediating this effect remain understudied. The aim of the study was to identify the central mechanisms of autonomic balance correction during a single session of kinesiological massage. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted with 58 female medical workers showing signs of occupational stress. The acute effects of a standardized kinesiological massage session were assessed compared to a placebo procedure. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, electroencephalography (EEG), and salivary cortisol levels were recorded synchronously before and after the intervention. It was found that kinesiological massage, unlike placebo, induced statistically significantly more pronounced positive changes: an increase in the power of the high-frequency component of HRV (HF) by 215.4 ± 25.6 ms², an increase in alpha-rhythm power in the occipital cortex by 22,5 ± 3.8 %, and a decrease in cortisol level by 3.8 ± 0.5 nmol/l. Multiple regression analysis revealed that increased alpha activity was the strongest predictor of increased parasympathetic tone (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). The high coherence of changes in EEG, HRV, and cortisol indicators confirms the systemic nature of the response. The obtained results indicate that the therapeutic effect of kinesiological massage in autonomic dysfunction is mediated by central mechanisms, primarily through the modulation of thalamocortical and limbic-reticular structure activity. This provides a neurophysiological rationale for using the method in rehabilitation and prevention programs for stress-induced conditions.