Effect of yoga in the modulation of heart rate variability in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of yoga on heart rate variability in patients with breast cancer in an outpatient rehabilitation program. Material and methods: Eighty-four patients with breast cancer were eligible for this study. After the exclusion of 7 women, participants were randomly allocated to a yoga exercise program (group A, n=33) and Pilates exercise program (group B, n=44). Heart rate variability parameters were evaluated at baseline, after six and twelve months of yoga exercises. Results: After twelve months of performing yoga exercises, standard deviation of the normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) improved by 5.53 ms (p<0.001), square root of the mean of the squared differences between adjacent normal RR interval (RMSSD) improved by 4.91 ms (p<0.01), total power (TP) improved by 279.78 ms2 (p<0.001), very low frequency (VLF) improved by 109.76 ms2 (p<0.01), low frequency (LF) improved by 88.38 ms2 (p<0.01), high frequency (HF) improved by 77.60 ms2 (p<0.05), and stress index (Si) improved by 137.24 c.u. (p<0.01). Based on the results after 12 months, women in group A showed significantly better results compared to group B in SDNN by 3.28 ms (p<0.05), RMSSD by 3.34 ms (p<0.05), TP by 170.33 ms2 (p<0.05), HF by 64.33 (p<0.05), and Si by 56.49 c.u. (p<0.05). Conclusions: Performing the yoga exercise program resulted in an increase of the parasympathetic and baroreflex effects on the cardiovascular system and a decrease in the tonic effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Yoga should be considered as an effective tool in normalizing the functional state of the autonomic nervous system. breast cancer, heart rate, pilates, yoga

Is Weekly Frequency of Yoga Practice Sufficient? Physiological Effects of Hatha Yoga Among Healthy Novice Women

“…Breast cancer patients showed improved HRV values at end of a 12-month long (3 times/week, 40-60 min/session) yoga training. These results were also significantly better than those of a Pilates control group (46). Similarly, patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed improved HRV values after a 12-week long (3 times/week, 30 min/session) yoga practice compared to the only medical treatment control group (45).…”

“…However, with one exception of all the 19 included randomized controlled trials investigated longer and/or more frequent yoga programs. Concerning HRV, two recent studies (45,46) also reported positive outcomes, however both applied longer yoga interventions. Thus, we can assume that although yoga may affect HR and HRV positively, 10 weekly sessions are not sufficient to evoke such changes.…”

“…However, the authors advised not to draw a final conclusions on the impact of yoga on HRV (42). Two recent studies (45,46), nevertheless, also reported positive outcomes. Breast cancer patients showed improved HRV values at end of a 12-month long (3 times/week, 40-60 min/session) yoga training.…”

The effect of hatha yoga on range of motion and strength in patients with breast cancer

“…Most studies indicate that physical therapy for women after breast cancer surgery might significantly improve the upper limb condition [20], heart rate variability [21], functional state of the cardiopulmonary system [22][23][24], and quality of life. Theoretical justification for the use of yoga therapy for women's health [25], especially for patients with breast cancer, was based on its positive impact reported in scientific studies [6][7][8][9] on the functioning of the upper extremity, cardiovascular system, emotional state, quality life, etc.…”

Effect of hatha yoga intervention on cardiovascular system in women after breast cancer surgery

“…The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of hatha yoga intervention on the cardiovascular system in patients after breast cancer surgery. Most previous yoga programs for patients with breast cancer have been performed to reduce cancer treatment-related symptoms such as fatigue, heart rate variability, lymphoedema, depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life [17][18][19]30]. Some previous studies have identified that yoga considerably impacts on cardiorespiratory fitness and strength in healthy adults [31][32][33], but hatha yoga effect on functional capacity of the cardiovascular system in breast cancer Ukrainian patients has not been reported.…”