Investigating components of pranayama for effects on heart rate variability.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Traditional Indian breath control practices of Pranayama have been shown to increase indices of heart rate variability (HRV) that are generally held to reflect parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) tone. To our knowledge, individual components of pranayama have not been separately evaluated for impact on HRV. The objective of this study was to isolate five components of a pranayama practice and evaluate their impact on HRV.

Methods

In a crossover clinical trial, 46 healthy adults were allocated to complete five activities in random order, over five separate visits: 1) sitting quietly; 2) self-paced deep breathing; 3) externally-paced deep breathing; 4) self-paced Sheetali/Sheetkari pranayama; and 5) externally paced Sheetali/Sheetkari pranayama RESULTS: Our final sa

SUBMITTER: Sharpe E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8568305 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature