Key result
Head and spine ice massage reduces immediate blood pressure more effectively than cooling pranayamas in hypertension.
Why the study?
The comparative immediate effects of ice massage to head and spine versus cooling pranayamas on blood pressure and heart rate variability in hypertensives were not established.
Does ice massage to the head and spine reduce blood pressure and improve heart rate variability compared to cooling pranayamas in hypertensive individuals?
RCT (n=100)
Open-label
randomly allocated
Does ice massage to the head and spine reduce blood pressure and improve heart rate variability compared to cooling pranayamas in hypertensive individuals?
Ice massage to the head and spine may provide a greater immediate reduction in blood pressure and improvement in certain HRV parameters compared to cooling pranayamas in hypertensive patients.
Ice massage offers a rapid non-drug option for acute BP reduction in hypertension; extends RCT evidence for complementary therapies beyond pranayama.
Aims: To compare the immediate effect of Ice Massage (IM) to head and spine with cooling pranayama (sheetali and sheetkari pranayama) in hypertensive individuals on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability. Study design: An open-label, randomized, clinical trial. Methodology: 100 hypertensive subjects were selected and randomly allocated into Group 1(n=50) (cooling pranayama) and Group 2 (n=50) (ice massage to head and spine). Group 1 practiced each pranayama for 10 mins and Group 2 was administered ice massage for 20 minutes. Subjects were assessed for Blood pressure and HRV at baseline and after treatment. Result: There was a significant decrease in the blood pressure, heart rate, and LF/HF ratio and an increase in the HF power, NN50, and pNN50 values in both the groups after ice massage and cooling pranayama. But there was a larger significance found in group 2 (ice massage to head and spine) blood pressure variables (P≤0.001***), VLF (P =0.002**), LF (P =0.003**). Conclusion: The study showed that both ice massage to the head, spine and sheetali, sheetkari pranayama appeared to be effective means in the reduction of blood pressure. The immediate effect of ice massage on the head and spine is more effective in comparison to cooling pranayamas in the reduction of blood pressure in hypertensives.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mukund et al. (2022) conducted an RCT in Hypertension (n=100). Ice massage to head and spine vs. Cooling pranayama (sheetali and sheetkari) was evaluated on Blood pressure and heart rate variability (p=≤0.001). Ice massage to the head and spine was more effective than cooling pranayamas in immediately reducing blood pressure in hypertensive individuals (P≤0.001).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:
More from Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research