Various pilot studies have been done by ACYTER staff under the direction of Dr Madanmohan, Programme Director ACYTER. The following studies have been conducted by Shri Jayasettiaseelon SRF, Dr Zeena Sanjay SRF, Shri G Dayanidy, Yoga Instructor and Selvi Vithiyalakshmi Yoga Instructor and coordinated by Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Programme Co-ordinator.
Principal investigator:
Dr. Madanmohan, M.D., Head, Department of Physiology and Programme Director, ACYTER
Co-investigators:
i) Dr. AK Das, Medical Superintendent, JIPMER
ii) Dr. P H Ananthanarayanan, HOD, Biochemistry, JIPMER
iii) Dr. GK Pal, Professor, Department of Physiology, JIPMER
iv) Dr. IV Basavaraddi, Director, MDNIY, New Delhi
Modern man is a victim of stress and stress-induced disorders like diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Yoga techniques are very effective for prevention as well as management of these disorders. Scientific research has demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga in producing deep psychosomatic relaxation as well as improving physiological functions. Earlier studies at JIPMER have shown that central nervous system processing is also affected in diabetes mellitus. It is a well known fact that South India is fast becoming world diabetic capital. It has also been reported that yoga improves nerve conduction, pulmonary function and biochemical profile in patients of diabetes mellitus. Keeping this in mind, we plan to study the effects of yoga therapy on patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with neuropathy in a randomized single blind controlled clinical trial. The study will be conducted on 80 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild to moderate neuropathy. After explaining the scientific and philosophical aspect of yoga and study design, informed consent will be obtained from them. They will be randomly divided into 2 groups of 40 subjects each. Group 1 subjects will undergo supervised yoga therapy sessions with a yoga therapist thrice a week and will be motivated to practice the same at home daily for a duration of 6 months. Group 2 subjects will not be taught yoga and will serve as the control group. Both groups will continue to receive their medication as per advice of their medical consultants.
Principal investigator:
Dr. Madanmohan, M.D., Head, Department of Physiology and Programme Director, ACYTER
Co-investigators:
i) Dr. TK Dutta, Head, Department of Medicine, JIPMER
ii) Dr. Ajit Sahai, Head, Department of Biometrics, JIPMER
iii) Dr. IV Basavaraddi, Director, MDNIY, New Delhi
Yoga has been found to have a role in prevention, management as well as rehabilitation in psychosomatic, stress-induced and lifestyle disorders like hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Studies have reported that yoga can help normalize the blood pressure reflex regulatory mechanisms. Studies at JIPMER have shown that autonomic and biochemical imbalances occur in patients of hypertension. The present study is planned to investigate the autonomic and biochemical changes occurring in hypertensive patients in response to 6 month yoga therapy. Yoga therapy is expected to lower blood pressure and improve autonomic function and biochemical profile. 80 patients of essential hypertension will be randomly divided into two groups of 40 subjects each. After explaining the scientific and philosophical aspect of yoga and study design, informed consent will be obtained from them. Group 1 subjects will undergo supervised yoga therapy sessions with a yoga therapist thrice a week and will be motivated to practice the same at home daily for a duration of 6 months. Group 2 subjects will not be taught yoga and will serve as the control group. Both groups will continue to receive their medication as per advice of their medical consultants.
Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most common health disorders and yoga has been shown to be an effective adjunct therapy in its management. Earlier two studies from our laboratories have demonstrated heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) lowering effects of slow, deep breathing after 3 weeks and 3 months of training. Beneficial effects of deep breathing in reducing premature ventricular complexes have also been reported by us. With this background, the present study was undertaken to determine the immediate effects of sukha pranayama on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients.
Methods: 23 hypertensive patients attending the Yoga OPD at JIPMER were instructed to perform sukha pranayama for five minutes at the rate of 6 breaths / minute. Sukha pranayama is a slow and deep pattern of breathing where inhalation and exhalation are of equal duration. HR and BP were recorded before and immediately after the intervention. Rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were derived by formulae.
Results: Sukha pranayama produced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in HR from 79.5 ± 3.09 to 78 ± 3.24 beats/min and a highly significant (p< 0.001) reduction in systolic pressure from 132.5 ± 5.45 to 123 ± 3.83 mmHg. Pulse pressure decreased from 61.5 ± 3.39 to 52.5 ± 2.21 mm Hg, mean arterial pressure from 91.5 ± 3.19 to 88 ± 2.35 mm Hg, RPP from 107.28 ± 8.43 to 97.37 ± 6.97 units and Do P from 73.88 ± 53.72 to 69.52 ± 46.94 units, all these changes being statistically significant (P<0.001).
Discussion and conclusion: It is concluded that sukha pranayama breathing at the rate of 6 breaths / minute can reduce HR and BP in hypertensive patients within five minutes of the practice. This may be due to normalization of autonomic cardiovascular rhythms as a result of increased vagal modulation and /or decreased sympathetic activity. Further studies are required to understand the possible mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect in hypertensive patients.
Introduction: Kaya kriya is a dynamic hatha yoga relaxation practice. It may have psycho-somatic harmonizing potential as it combines movement of different parts of the body with deep breathing in the supine position. The present study was undertaken to determine immediate effects of kaya kriya on cardiovascular parameters in normal subjects.
Methods: 12 normal subjects were instructed to perform kaya kriya for 10 minutes. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured with non-invasive semi-automatic BP monitor before and immediately after the practice. Rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were derived by formulae.
Results: There was significant (p< 0.01) reduction in systolic pressure from 112.25±2.91 to 108.83±2.69 mmHg, diastolic pressure from 71.25 ± 1.72 to 68.17± 1.29 mmHg and mean pressure from 84.92±1.93 to 81.72±1.57 mmHg and an appreciable fall in HR from 72.33 ± 3.62 to 69.67 ± 3.29 beats/min. RPP decreased from 81.29 ± 4.97 to 75.84 ± 4.17 units and Do P from 61.55 ± 3.80 to 56.95 ± 2.97 units (p=0.06).
Discussion and conclusion: It is concluded that 10 minutes of kaya kriya relaxation produces a significant reduction in BP. This may be due to a normalization of autonomic cardiovascular rhythms as a result of increased vagal modulation, and /or decreased sympathetic activity. Further studies with more subjects with control group and in different health conditions are required to understand the possible mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect.
Introduction: Yoga has been shown to be an effective adjunct therapy in the management of hypertension. Earlier studies from our laboratories have shown beneficial effects of savitri pranayama in normal subjects. Savitri pranayama involves slow and deep breathing in the ratio 2:1:2:1 and has been studied in combination with other practices in hypertensive patients. The present study was undertaken to determine immediate effects of savitri pranayama and shavasana on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients.
Methods: 6 hypertensive patients attending Yoga therapy sessions at ACYTER were recruited for this study. They were instructed to lie down in shavasana and perform savitri pranayam for 10 minutes. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded before and immediately after the intervention. Rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were derived by formulae.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant (p < 0.001) reduction in mean pressure from 90.33 ± 1.77 to 85.11 ± 1.67 mmHg and Do P from 73.91 ±6.23 to 65.35 ± 5.69 units. There was a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in HR from 81.50 ± 5.84 to 76.50 ± 5.78 beats/min, systolic pressure from 125.67 ± 4.42 to 117 ± 3.89 mmHg and RPP from 102.24 ± 7.58 to 89.20 ± 6.46 units. Diastolic pressure decreased from 72.67 ± 2.74 to 69.17 ± 2.74 mmHg, the decrease being statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Discussion and conclusion: It is concluded that 10 minutes of shavasana with savitri pranayama reduces HR and BP implying normalization of the cardiovascular autonomic regulatory mechanisms with increased vagal modulation and / or decreased sympathetic activity. Reduction in RPP and Do P signifies reduction in oxygen consumption and work done by the heart. Further studies with more subjects and control groups are required to understand possible mechanisms underlying this immediate and beneficial effect in hypertensive patients.
Introduction: Yoga therapists routinely use chandra nadi pranayama to help reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. This is attributed to its stress lowering effects that have been documented by previous studies. Though there are some studies on the long term effect of chandra nadi pranayama, there are no studies on its immediate effect on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients.
Methods: 26 hypertensive patients attending yoga OPD at JIPMER were recruited for the study. They were taught chandra nadi pranayama and instructed to perform the same for five minutes in sitting position. Heart rate (HR) and BP were recorded with non-invasive automatic BP apparatus before and immediately after the practice of chandra nadi pranayama. Rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were derived by formulae.
Results: There was a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in HR from 75.5 ± 2.78 to 70 ± 2.72 beats/min, RPP from 106.15 ±4.53 to 96.06 ± 4.24 units and Do P from 76.36 ± 33.90 to 72.66 ± 33.36 units. A significant reduction (p < 0.01) occurred in systolic pressure (SP) from 140 ± 3.26 to 137 ± 3.12 mmHg and pulse pressure from 58.5 ± 2.78 to 50 ± 2.39 mmHg. There was a statistically insignificant rise in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 101 ± 1.97 to 103.67 ± 2.01 mmHg and diastolic pressure (DP) from 81.5 ± 1.76 to 87 ± 1.76 mm Hg
Discussion and conclusion: Chandra nadi pranayama produced a significant decrease in HR and SP signifying a normalization of cardiovascular reflex mechanisms within 5 minutes. It also produced a significant fall in RPP and Do P signifying a reduction in oxygen consumption and work done by the heart. However the rise in DP and MAP is difficult to explain. Further studies with more subjects and control groups are required to understand the possible mechanisms underlying this immediate effect of chandra nadi pranayama in hypertensive patients.
Introduction: The use of sound vibrations as part of relaxation in shavasana is taught in some yoga schools. The present study was planned to determine the cardiovascular effects of performing shavasana with pranava pranayama involving making akara, ukara, makara and omkara nada.
Methods: 19 hypertensive patients attending yoga therapy sessions at ACYTER were taught shavasana with pranava pranayama and instructed to perform the same for 15 minutes. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured with non-invasive semi-automatic BP monitor before and immediately after. Rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were derived by formulae.
Results: There was a highly significant (p < 0.001) reduction in systolic pressure from 135.94 ± 3.51 to 126.21 ± 2.88 mmHg, pulse pressure from 57.26 ± 3.02 to 50.15 ± 2.35 mmHg, RPP from 106.45 ± 5.36 to 97.35 ± 4.91 units and Do P from 121.41 ± 63.17 to 110.21 ± 56.35 units. Diastolic pressure reduced significantly (p< 0.01) from 78.68 ± 1.74 to 76.05 ± 1.59 mmHg. There was statistically insignificant reduction in HR from 78.05 ± 2.91 to 76.78 ± 2.89.
Discussion and conclusion: It is concluded that 15 minutes of shavasana with pranava pranayama can reduce BP in hypertensives. This may be due to a normalization of autonomic cardiovascular rhythms as a result of increased vagal modulation, and /or decreased sympathetic activity. It also produced a significant fall in RPP and Do P signifying a reduction in oxygen consumption and work done by the heart. Further studies are required to understand the possible mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect in hypertensive patients.
Introduction: Yoga nidra is one of the special relaxation techniques of yoga. Previous studies have shown beneficial effects after different periods of training. The present study was undertaken to study the immediate cardiovascular effects of yoga nidra on 20 normal subjects.
Methods: 20 healthy volunteers attended 20 minutes of yoga nidra sessions during a one month period. They were instructed to mentally observe the body part by part in association with breath. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured before and after a single session. Pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (Do P) were calculated by formulae.
Results: Statistical analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in HR from 79.3 ± 2.45 to 75.2 ± 1.84 beats/min, RPP from 88.21 ± 3.33 to 81.89 ± 2.38 units and Do P from 66.84 ± 2.60 to 62.52 ± 1.89 units immediately after the yoga nidra session. There was insignificant reduction in SP from 111.2 ± 2.21 to 109 ± 2.05 mmHg, PP from 40.6 ± 1.42 to 38.9 ± 1.50 mmHg, DP from 70.6 ± 1.36 to 70 ± 1.25 mmHg and MAP from 84.08 ± 1.55 to 83.15 ± 1.40 mmHg.
Discussion and conclusion: It is concluded that 20 minutes of yoga nidra practice can reduce HR, RPP and Do P in normal subjects. This may be due to a normalization of autonomic cardiovascular rhythms as a result of increased vagal modulation, and /or decreased sympathetic activity. The reduction in RPP and Do P signifies reduction in oxygen consumption and work done by the heart. Further studies are required to understand possible mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect of yoga nidra.