A Proposal for the Use of Craniosacral Therapy in Firefighter Cadets to Decrease Cortisol Levels and Improve Postural Stability—A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Stress is a physiological response to the mental, emotional, or physical challenges that people encounter. Reactions to stress are also associated with increased secretion of numerous hormones including; glucocorticoids, e.g., cortisol, catecholamines. Methods: The research aimed to check whether craniosacral osteopathic therapy performed over a period of five weeks would affect the values of cortisol level and postural stability amongst sixty firefighter cadets (aged 18–24; 21.63 ± 1.41), involved in rescue operations at traffic accidents (the firefighter cadets underwent qualified paramedic training). The participants were divided into two groups: craniosacral therapy experimental group (30 people) and a control group (27 people). Results: The obtained results show that craniosacral therapy can lead to lower levels of cortisol p < 0.001. It is difficult to state unequivocally that craniosacral osteopathic therapy influenced the values of postural stability; it was noted for the ellipse area in the group subjected to craniosacral therapy for the lower limbs with eyes open p-value = 0.0002. Conclusions: Craniosacral therapy may have a beneficial effect in reducing high cortisol levels.

Keywords

• cortisol
• postural stability
• firefighter cadets
• craniosacral therapy