Vestibular Well-Being Benefits of a Single Session of Functional Neurology Intervention on Saccadic Stimuli Dysfunction

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the psychophysiological effects of functional neurology intervention on dysfunction in vestibular saccadic stimuli, focusing on its impact on muscle performance, psychophysiological arousal, and pain perception. Methods: Seventy-five healthy volunteer participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group that received functional neurology treatment and a control group that did not. Both groups underwent the same evaluations at four distinct time points. Key measurements included pressure pain threshold (PPT), hand strength, critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT), blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and the number of saccadic stimuli tolerated until dysfunction in an indicator muscle (anterior deltoid). The functional neurology intervention involved proprioceptive reflexes, trigger point desensitization, and systemic approaches to rectify neuromuscular dysfunctions. Results: The results showed that the functional neurology intervention significantly increased the number of saccadic stimuli tolerated, from 3.6 ± 3.3 to 26.1 ± 8.7, indicating an improvement in neuromuscular endurance. Additionally, PPT readings exhibited an upward trend from baseline to post-intervention, with the final reading averaging at 10.2 ± 5.3 kgf, and hand strength measurements showed a modest but significant increase post-intervention. Notably, CFFT and blood oxygen saturation levels remained relatively stable, suggesting that the intervention’s primary impact was on neuromuscular performance and pain perception rather than on cognitive arousal or systemic oxygenation. Heart rate data indicated a decrease post-intervention, implying potential improvements in autonomic nervous system function. In contrast, the control group did not present significant changes in any of the psychophysiological parameters evaluated. These findings underscore the potential of targeted functional neurology treatments to enhance physical performance and provide valuable therapeutic benefits for neuromuscular and cognitive dysfunctions. Conclusions: Functional neurology interventions can effectively improve muscle endurance, pain management, and overall neuromuscular health, highlighting its relevance as a therapeutic modality in sports performance optimization and rehabilitation contexts.