Objective: Bipedalism in humans demanded robust postural control systems to maintain balance and equilibrium during variety of volitional activities. Adaptive learning is a key characteristic of these control systems. Postural control and balance are associated with autonomic changes trying to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis during postural imbalances, which are specifically important in conditions like flat foot. Yoga training could help such cases to achieve better postural balance and autonomic state. Young adolescent girls with flat foot were studied in comparison to normal girls and flat foot boys. Materials and Methods: Sixteen girls and 11 boys with flat foot were subjected to posturography on Wii Balance Board connected wirelessly to PowerLab 15T. Wireless heart rate belt was used to acquire RR intervals. Vrikshasana was chosen as the suitable asana for 4-week training. Displacement of center of pressure (COP) and heart rate variability was analyzed using LabChart pro software before and after yoga training. Results: COP displacement in flat foot subjects is away from the center during erect stance and sway toward sides. Flat foot girls showed significant greater displacements and lesser correction after yoga compared to flat foot boys (P < 0.05). Flat foot girls also showed lesser recovery in LF% and RMSSD after 4-week yoga training. Conclusion: Studying the autonomic changes during voluntary postural imbalance on balance board provide real-time picture of internal state in flat foot individuals. The sympathetic dominance would account for preparedness and adaptation in postural control systems. This state improved with yoga training toward better cardiac vagal tone.
Background Psychosocial stress in women is an emerging problem that is by and large unnoticed. Workplaces are being stressful places for women, but the degree of the stress as perceived by them is highly subjective. Aim To evaluate the stress using the 10-item perceived stress scale (PSS-10) and dividing the participants into low, moderate, and severe stress groups based on the scores. To objectively assess the cardiovascular risk using heart rate variability (HRV) as an index. Methods After obtaining informed and written consent, a mixed population of 50 women working at various levels in the hospital, and home-makers were included in the study. PSS-10 questionnaires were administered and scores were obtained. Electrocardiogram was obtained from lead II at rest for 10 minutes, and HRV was estimated using the LabChart Pro software (ADInstruments). Results Of the participants, 72% were in the moderate perceived stress group. Mean PSS scores were 10.33 ± 0.82, 19.72 ± 3.4, and 29.3 ± 2.3 in low, moderate, and high stress groups, respectively. Frequency-domain measures showed very significant difference across the groups. Very low frequency (VLF) was reduced (p = 0.04) and low frequency (LF) was higher (p = 0.01) in the high stress group. Conclusions Reduced VLF in the high perceived stress group is an indicator of higher cardiovascular mortality risk, which also signifies posttraumatic stress disorder. High LF and reduced high-low frequency powers signify autonomic imbalance in these women. Their perceptions of the stress were also more toward the inability to contain positive emotions when compared with having negative emotions related to stress. AbstractKeywords ► HRV ► negative emotions ► positive emotions ► perceived stress ► PSS-10 ► VLF
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