Impact of eurythmy therapy on cardiorespiratory interaction

Abstract

Objectives Mind–body therapies combine body movements and accompanying guided imagery. Eurythmy therapy (harmonious rhythm, EYT) is a mind–body therapy that is based on the principles of Anthroposophic Medicine. It uses harmonious body movements and guided imagery according to the state of movement. It has been shown that different EYT exercises show a distinct impact on heart rate variability. Here, we investigate whether two different EYT exercises (‘Migraine B’/MigB and ‘I Think The Saying’/ITTS) also affect coordination of heartbeat and respiration (cardiorespiratory interaction). Methods A total of 20 healthy subjects (average age: 29.1±9.3 years, 13 female, 7 male) carried out the following sequence of exercises: rest–YET–rest–CE1–rest–CE2–rest. Each exercise and each resting period (sitting position) lasted 8 min (total duration: approx. 60 min). During control exercise 1 (CE1) the same movements as in EYT were carried out without guided imagery and during CE2 the subjects walked on the spot. An electrocardiogram and the nasal/oral airflow were recorded throughout the procedure. The respiratory rate was calculated using the airflow trace. Cardiorespiratory interaction was quantified by the ratio of heart rate and respiratory rate (HRR). The temporal relationship between heartbeat and respiration was quantified by the amount of phase coordinated heartbeats (PCH%) and its accompanying ratio of heart rate and respiratory rate (PCR). Results During MigB the respiratory rate was 14.4 cycles per minute (cpm) on average. The respiratory rates increased during CE1 (16.7 cpm) and CE2 (23.0 cpm). During MigB HRR was 6.6 and decreased during CE1 (5.8) and CE2 (4.9). PCH% decreased from 6.9% during MigB to 2.4% during CE1 and increased to 8.3% during CE2. PCR was the same during MigB and CE1 (4.7) and decreased during CE2 (4.3). During ITTS the respiratory rate was 14.7 cpm and it increased during CE1 and CE2 (16.6 and 19.2 cpm). HRR was 6.6 during ITTS and decreased during CE1 (5.7) and CE2 (4.7). PCH% was 7.4% and increased during CE1 (8.4%) and CE2 (11.1%). PCR was the same during ITTS and CE1 (4.8). Conclusion The respiratory rate, HRR and PCH% reflect differences between EYT, CE1 and CE2. However, only PCH% reflects differences between ‘Migraine B’ and ‘I Think The Saying’. In conclusion, we found that EYT de-coordinates rather than coordinates heartbeat and respiration because PCH% was lower during EYT compared to CE2.