Yoga Relaxation (savasana) decreases cardiac sympathovagal balance in hypertensive patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although relaxation is recommended as complementary therapy for hypertension, its postintervention cardiovascular autonomic effects are unclear. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of savasana relaxation on cardiovascular autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was performed at the Hemodynamic Laboratory of the Physical Education School of the University of Sã o Paulo/Brazil. Sixteen hypertensive (6-women) and 14 normotensive patients (6-women) non-obese subjects participated in 2 random sessions: savasana relaxation and control. Patients remained supine for 55 min after interventions. Electrocardiogram, beat-to-beat blood pressure and respiration were acquired during and after interventions for posterior autoregressive spectral analysis of the R-R interval and blood pressure variability. RESULTS: Hypertensive and normotensive patients presented similar cardiac autonomic modulation responses during and after experimental sessions. During relaxation, low frequency and sympathovagal balance were significantly lower in the Relaxation sessions than during supine rest in the Control sessions. Fifteen minutes after interventions, low frequency and sympathovagal balance were still lower in Relaxation than in Control, and remained lower for 35 min; at 55 min, the variables were similar between sessions. Systolic blood pressure variability did not differ among sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Savasana Relaxation decreases cardiac sympathetic autonomic modulation after its performance in hypertensive patients; this reduction lasts at least 35 minutes and is not blunted in hypertensive patients when compared to normotensive controls. Thus, savasana relaxation has positive effects on cardiac autonomic modulation of hypertensive patients, and may be included as a strategy for the non-drug treatment of hypertension.

Effect of Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Heart Rate Variability: Randomized Controlled Trial in Patients Post-MI

“…8 The literature indicates that yoga-based lifestyle intervention favorably modifies various cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. [9][10][11] Various limbs of yoga, including asana, pranayama, and meditation, improve the sympathovagal response, which is evident from the increase in HRV and restoration of baroreflex sensitivity. 6,12 Accumulating evidence suggests that yoga might have a favorable effect on cardiac autonomic function.…”

Alternatif Burun Solunumu Egzersizinin Hipertansiyonu Olan Bireylerin Kan Basıncının Düzenlenmesinde Etkisi

“…[26] Another study of 60 healthy individuals showed that a 12-week alternate nostril breathing exercise program showed a significant decrease in the mean SBP of the participants. [27] The results of this study showed that the patients who participated in the silent sitting session showed a decrease of approximately 3 and 5 mmHg in the SBP and DBP, respectively, whereas the patients who performed the alternate nostril breathing exercise showed a decrease of about 4 mmHg in both SBP and DBP measured at the end of the second week ( Table 3). Results of intergroup evaluation of the decrease in BP showed a significant decrease in the SBP of patients who performed the breathing exercises, which is consistent with the findings reported previous (p<0.05) ( Table 3).…”

Yoga and heart rate variability: A comprehensive review of the literature

“…and increased HFn.u. [ 22 35 36 40 ] while two different studies of TM in advanced meditators reported increased HF power during periods of meditation compared to baseline eyes closed[ 37 ] and during periods of transcendental experience compared to other experiences during meditation. [ 38 ] The one study examining HRV during meditation ( dhyana ), focused thinking ( dharana ), nonmeditative thinking ( ekagrata ), and random thinking ( cancatla ) reported reduced LFn.u.…”

“…after yoga relaxation compared to supine rest. [ 40 ] Furthermore, one study that compared HRV at baseline with HRV after yoga relaxation reported no change in HRV. [ 39 ]…”