21 December 2009
Effects of mild-stream bathing on recovery from mental fatigue
Kei MizunoABCDEF, Masaaki TanakaABCDE, Kanako TajimaBD, Naoki OkadaABD, Kazumasa RokushimaADG, Yasuyoshi WatanabeADEFGMed Sci Monit 2010; 16(1): CR8-14 :: ID: 878306
Abstract
Background
Bathing in hot water is very common in Japan; people bathe in order to clean their bodies and to recover from physical and mental fatigue. However, there have been few reports examining the effects of bathing on recovery from mental fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mild-stream bathing on recovery from mental fatigue.
Material and Method
During mild-stream bathing, a mild stream continuously passes from the sole to the calf, thigh, waist and back, thus providing a massage function. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover experiment, 14 male healthy volunteers were randomized into normal bathing and mild-stream bathing experiments. After a fatigue-inducing mental task for 4 hours, subjects took a normal or mild-stream bath.
Results
Heart rate was higher, muscle stiffness in the waist was lower and plasma cortisol levels tended to be lower after mild-stream bathing when compared to normal bathing. In addition, after mild-stream bathing, mental task performance, as assessed by reaction times on an advanced trail making test, was better than that after normal bathing.
Conclusions
The present results suggest that improved working memory processing, diminished waist muscle tone, and attenuated mental stress are induced by mild-stream bathing. Therefore, mild-stream bathing appears to be more effective for alleviating mental fatigue than normal bathing.
Keywords: Muscle, Skeletal - physiology, Mental Fatigue - therapy, Japan, Hydrotherapy - statistics & numerical data, Hydrocortisone - blood, Heart Rate, Double-Blind Method, Cross-Over Studies, Analysis of Variance, Psychomotor Performance
Editorial
04 June 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Origin in Children. Is Autoimmunity at Play?DOI: 10.12659/MSM.937371
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937371
In Press
23 Jun 2022 : Clinical Research
A Real-World Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Paritaprevir/Ombitasvir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir, w...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936706
22 Jun 2022 : Clinical Research
A Single-Center Study Comparing the Effects of Thoracic Spine Manipulation vs Mobility Exercises in 26 Offi...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.937316
21 Jun 2022 : Clinical Research
Optimal Timing and Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Approach in Acute Biliary PancreatitisMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.937016
16 Jun 2022 : Clinical Research
Renal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cohort Study During the Biologic EraMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.936497
Most Viewed Current Articles
30 Dec 2021 : Clinical Research
Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379
08 Mar 2022 : Review article
A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292
01 Nov 2020 : Review article
Long-Term Respiratory and Neurological Sequelae of COVID-19DOI :10.12659/MSM.928996
Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e928996
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952