We were caught by the headline and heart warming story in 2008: “Premature Baby Survived Because Mother Tickled Her Feet.”
Now there’s research reporting about why this would be.
Researchers at UCLA tested the effect of vibrating discs on the feet and hands of premature infants who were having problems of breathing pauses and low oxygen. Their goal: to provide a proprioception vibrating stimulation to prompt a breathing reflex. The vibrating device was turned on for six hours at a time, followed by six hours off, for a total of 24 hours. Vital signs were compared for the on stage versus the off stage. While the device was on low oxygen incidents were reduced by 33% and number of breathing poses were reduced by 40%. Low heart rate episodes were reduced by 65%. Why would this be?
It’s all about the foot’s role in walking, a premise presented by Kunz and Kunz a number of years ago. As Barbara noted over the years, reflexology is weightless jogging.
Noted in one report about the research:
“The technique uses a simple device that tricks babies’ brains into thinking they are running, which prompts them to breathe.”…
“As humans evolved over many thousands of years, our bodies developed a system to help us when we start running and suddenly need more oxygen. Now, using that innate reflex as inspiration, UCLA researchers have developed a noninvasive way to treat potentially harmful breathing problems in babies who were born prematurely. …
““When our feet hit the ground running, we flex muscles and joints that have nerve fibers leading to the brain which signal that the body is running,” he said. “This message is coupled with another set of fibers to parts of the brain that regulate breathing and sends a signal that those parts need to increase breathing. Fortunately, that coupling exists even in extremely young infants.” …
The study:
Also noted: “The nerve fibers project to the cerebellum and are activated with running or walking. These proprioceptor nerves also help stimulate breathing. Though it may seem surprising that nerves in the feet can trigger breathing, it makes evolutionary sense, Dr. Harper explains.”
(Harper RM, Kesavan K. Neuromodulatory Support for Breathing and Cardiovascular Action During Development. Front Pediatr. 2021 Sep 30;9:753215. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.753215. PMID: 34660498; PMCID: PMC8514987.)
