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January 1, 2015International Journal of Research in Medical SciencesOpen Access

Effect of yoga on autonomic functions in medical students: a pilot study

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Key result

Medical students with one year of yoga practice had a significantly lower resting heart rate (75.92 vs 79.13 bpm) and respiratory rate compared to novices, indicating increased parasympathetic activity.

Why the study?

Does one year of regular yoga practice improve autonomic functions and parasympathetic activity in healthy young adults?

Population

60 healthy undergraduate medical students from a single center in India, with no history of diabetes…

Comparison

One year of regular yoga practice. vs No experience in yoga practice.

Design

Cross-sectional

Authors

SHShashikiran HCCentral Council for Research in Yoga & NaturopathyPSPrashanth ShettyCentral Council for Research in Yoga & NaturopathyRCR ChethanAll India Institute of Medical Sciences

Discussion

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Overview

Yoga associated with parasympathetic effects in students; leaves open causal benefits for autonomic function in young adults.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=60)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does one year of regular yoga practice improve autonomic functions and parasympathetic activity in healthy young adults?

P
Population
60 healthy undergraduate medical students (mean age 18.8 ± 2.3 years, 34 male, 26 female) from a single center in India, with no history of diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease, asthma, skin diseases, or other medical disorders.
I
Intervention
One year of regular yoga practice (n=30; 17 males, 13 females).
C
Comparator
No experience in yoga practice (novice group, n=30; 17 males, 13 females).
O
Outcome
Autonomic variables (heart rate, HRV parameters including PNN50, SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, LF/HF) and respiration rate assessed at a single time point at baseline and during deep breathing.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 75.92% vs 79.13%

p-value: p=0.004

Regular yoga practice for one year is associated with increased parasympathetic activity, indicated by lower resting heart rates and altered HRV parameters, in healthy young adults.

Limitations

  • Small sample size
  • Experience in yoga practice was only 1 year with low power significance on HRV
  • Subjects had a break from regular yoga practice twice a year due to vacation, which could have partly confounded the results
  • Experience in yoga practice in subjects was only 1 year with low power significance on HRV
  • Break from regular yoga practice twice a year due to vacation could have confounded results

Cite This Study

HC et al. (2015) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy medical students (n=60). Yoga practice vs. No yoga experience (Novices) was evaluated on Resting heart rate (bpm) (p=0.004). Medical students with one year of yoga practice had a significantly lower resting heart rate (75.92 vs 79.13 bpm) and respiratory rate compared to novices, indicating increased parasympathetic activity.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a10b73ced67694fb09f5b4chttps://doi.org/10.5455/2320-6012.ijrms20150503
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Also Consider

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