Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectivesSince ageing is associated with a decline in pulmonary function, heart rate variability and spontaneous baroreflex, and recent studies suggest that yoga respiratory exercises may improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, we hypothesised that yoga respiratory training may improve respiratory function and cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy elderly subjects.Design76 healthy elderly subjects were enrolled in a randomised control trial in Brazil and 29 completed the study (age 68±6 years, 34% males, body mass index 25±3 kg/m2). Subjects were randomised into a 4-month training program (2 classes/week plus home exercises) of either stretching (control, n=14) or respiratory exercises (yoga, n=15). Yoga respiratory exercises (Bhastrika) consisted of rapid forced expirations followed by inspiration through the right nostril, inspiratory apnoea with generation of intrathoracic negative pressure, and expiration through the left nostril. Pulmonary function, maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (PEmax and PImax, respectively), heart rate variability and blood pressure variability for spontaneous baroreflex determination were determined at baseline and after 4 months.ResultsSubjects in both groups had similar demographic parameters. Physiological variables did not change after 4 months in the control group. However, in the yoga group, there were significant increases in PEmax (34%, p<0.0001) and PImax (26%, p<0.0001) and a significant decrease in the low frequency component (a marker of cardiac sympathetic modulation) and low frequency/high frequency ratio (marker of sympathovagal balance) of heart rate variability (40%, p<0.001). Spontaneous baroreflex did not change, and quality of life only marginally increased in the yoga group.ConclusionRespiratory yoga training may be beneficial for the elderly healthy population by improving respiratory function and sympathovagal balance.Trial RegistrationCinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00969345; trial registry name: Effects of respiratory yoga training (Bhastrika) on heart rate variability and baroreflex, and quality of life of healthy elderly subjects.

Hatha Yoga as a Form of Physical Activity in the Context of Lifestyle Disease Prevention

“…The authors did not find any significant changes in any parameters in the control group. In conclusion, the respiratory yoga training in Bhastrika pranayama can be beneficial for the healthy elderly population as it improves their respiratory function [24].…”

“…It can also depend on the length of time the subjects spend practicing breathing exercises [24,32]. The duration of the yoga training and its intensity (low or moderate) is also of importance.…”

“…High HRV indicates greater parasympathetic control [22,24,28,29,30]. Regular yoga training can improve breathing parameters; however, it should include breathing exercises (pranayama) and should be performed for at least 10 weeks.…”

Different types of bhastrika pranayama: repeated measures trials with different treatments to study the trend of the effects on static balance ability

“…6/minute. This shows a significant tendency to improve the autonomic nervous system by enhancing the activation of the parasympathetic system [22,23]. Research also shows that one cannot improve the static stability.…”

“…The yoga practice included breathing exercises (pranayama) [6,21]. In another experiment, carried out by Santanella et al [22], yoga practitioners were randomized into 4 month-long training programmes for 2 groups: respiratory exercises (yoga group, experimental, n = 15) and the stretching group (control, n = 14). The researchers concluded that respiratory yoga related to bhastrika practice might be useful for the healthy group by improving the respiratory function as well as the sympathovagal balance.…”