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.
