ボールプールの自律神経系に及ぼす効果について—呼吸・代謝・心拍と主観的な感じ方からの検討

Effect of ball pool on the autonomic nervous system : Analysis in respiratory function and subjective feeling

要旨：ボールプールの自律神経系に及ぼす効果について，呼吸・代謝・心拍と主観的な感じ方から検討した．健常成人50名を対象に，マット上とボールプール内の2条件における呼吸努力の指標・代謝当量・心拍数等の測定と主観的な感じ方についての調査を実施し，2条件における比較を行った．結果，ボールプールに入ると主観的に，眠くなる，気分が落ち着く傾向がみられた．また同時に，呼吸努力の軽減，代謝当量の低下，心拍数の低下も認められた．ボールプールにより呼吸中枢の抑制，副交感神経優位の反応が出現し心理的にも沈静効果が生じたと考えられる．

　The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of ball pool on the autonomic nervous system by analyzing changes in respiratory functions and subjective feeling. Several indexes of respiratory efforts and the subjective feeling of fifty healthy subjects were examined before and during ball pool immersion. The subjective feeling study showed a positive calming effect of ball pool immersion where subjects became sleepy and felt better. These calming effects were confirmed physiologically by a respiratory effort study as well as by a metabolic equivalent and heart rate study, which showed marked reduction. We concluded that psychological calming effect of ball pool immersion were followed by an autonomic nervous system reaction.