Autogenic‐Feedback Training: A Potential Treatment For Orthostatic Intolerance in Aerospace Crews

Abstract

Postflight orthostatic intolerance has been identified as a serious biomedical problem associated with long-duration exposure to microgravity in space. High priority has been given to the development of countermeasures for this disorder that are both effective and practical. A considerable body of clinical research has demonstrated that people can be taught to increase their own blood pressure voluntarily, and that this is an effective treatment for chronic orthostatic intolerance in paralyzed patients. The current pilot study was designed to examine the feasibility of adding training in control of blood pressure to an existing preflight training program designed to facilitate astronaut adaptation to microgravity. Using an operant conditioning procedure, autogenic-feedback training (AFT), three men and two women participated in four to nine training (15-30-minute) sessions. At the end of training, the average increase in systolic and diastolic pressure, as well as mean arterial pressures, that the subjects made ranged between 20 and 50 mm Hg under both supine and 45 degrees head-up tilt conditions. These findings indicate that AFT may be a useful alternative treatment or supplement to existing approaches for preventing postflight orthostatic intolerance. Furthermore, the use of operant conditioning methods for training cardiovascular responses may contribute to the general understanding of the mechanisms of orthostatic intolerance.

The effects of the command and Control Vehicle (C2V) operational environment on soldier health and performance

“…The method for assessing individual responses to motion sickness stimuli has been used extensively in past research to identify which responses should be targeted for training subjects to reduce response variability (i.e., enhance homeostatic control). This autonomic training method, autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE), has been shown to increase motion sickness tolerance and improve pilot performance during emergency flying conditions (Cowings & Toscano, 1982Cowings, Billingham, & Toscano, 1978;Cowings, 1990;Cowings, Toscano, Kamiya, Miller, & Sharp, 1988;Cowings, Toscano, Miller, & Reynoso, 1993;Cowings et al, 1994;Kellar, Folen, Cowings, Toscano, & Hisert, 1993;Toscano & Cowings, 1978, 1982, 1994.…”

Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health

“…Gaby responded well to the biofeedback sessions and consistently demonstrated lower forehead and neck tensions levels and the ability to warm her hands over 90°F. Autogenic Training seemed to be effective in stabilization of the ANS, similarly to its application in motion sickness (Cowings et al, 1994 ) . The number of syncopal episodes decreased to almost zero during the next month.…”

Autogenic Feedback Training Exercise: A Treatment for Airsickness in Military Pilots

“…In one study, AFTE was found to be superior to promethazine in controlling motion sickness without the debilitating side effects often observed with medications . Other medical applications for AFTE include treatment of patients with low blood pressure (Cowings et al, 1994), in patients with essential hypertension (Cowings, Toscano, Taylor, Hines, & Ofili, 2005), and gastrointestinal motility disorders (Rashed et al, 2001), all of which are currently under investigation.…”

“…In contrast, the primary objective of this research group has been to develop an effective countermeasure by training people to recognize and control those physiological responses associated with the onset of motion sickness (Blizzard, Cowings, & Miller, 1975;Cowings, 1990;Cowings, Billingham, & Toscano, 1977;Cowings, Naifeh, & Toscano, 1990;Cowings, Suter, Toscano, Kamiya, & Naifeh, 1986;, 1993Cowings, Toscano, Kamiya, Miller, & Sharp, 1988;Cowings et al, 1994;. The methodology is referred to as Autogenic Feedback Training Exercise (AFTE), 1 which is a combination of biofeedback and autogenic therapy (Schultz & Luthe, 1969).…”