Effect of the short-term practice of pranayama on the autonomic functions in 1st-year MBBS students

Abstract

Background: The present-day stress among the majority of the population across the globe is only increasing day by day. Be it school going children, young adults or elderly population, all face risk of diseases related to stress due to the life-style changes that have occurred in the past two decades. This has made the kind intervention of yogic practices like Pranayama an inevitable part of our lives. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of various types of pranayamas (involving bhastrika, ujjayi, sheetali, anuloma viloma, and kapalbharathi) on autonomic functions of the body (blood pressure, cardiovascular parameters, and hand grip strength). Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 (Males - 12, Females - 18) healthy volunteers (1st-year MBBS students) of same age group. Recordings of blood pressure, electrocardiography and hand grip strength (using hand grip dynamometer) were taken before starting the pranayamic practices and after 4 weeks of regular pranayamic practices. Results: Descriptive statistical analysis and paired t-test were done. The decrease in systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate was significant (P = 0.005, P = 0.000, and 0.001, respectively). The changes in PR interval, QRS duration, and corrected QT interval were not significant. However, the hand grip strength increased significantly from 26.1 ± 7.9 to 29.0 ± 7.1, i.e., (P = 0.000), in the right hand and 24.7 ± 9.05–26.1 ± 7.9 in the left hand (P = 0.000) post pranayama. Conclusions: Even a short-term practice of regular pranayamic exercises lasting 4 weeks caused significant decrease in blood pressure, heart rate parameters along with an increase in hand grip strength and endurance, thus indicating beneficial effects of these practices thus suggesting the requirement to make it a day to day practice in all age groups especially young adults who face constant stress in day to day activities.