Decrease In Heart Rate Research Articles

The Effectiveness and Safety of Beta Antagonists in Patients With Burns: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the safety and effectiveness of beta antagonists for improving clinical care in burn patients, compared to placebo. Articles from randomized-controlled trials were identified by a literature search on PubMed and Cochrane. We included relevant trials involving patients with burn. Trials were eligible if they evaluated propranolol and compared to usual care or placebo. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. A total of 2114 patients were included from 14 RCTs. Beta-blocker-treated patients had decreased heart rates (WMD = -14.73, 95% CIs = [-19.14, -10.32]), mean arterial pressure (WMD = -2.76, 95% CIs = [-3.81, -1.70]), rate pressure product (WMD = -1.13, 95% CIs = [-1.56, -0.71]), reduced time for wound healing (WMD = -5.08, 95% CIs [-8.97, -1.18]), and lower resting energy expenditure (WMD = -168.83, 95% CIs [-232.03, -105.63]). However, use of beta-blockers did not reduce mortality rate (WMD = 0.98, 95% CIs [0.68, 1.41]), incidence of sepsis (RR = 0.82, 95% CIs = [0.50, 1.35]), or length of stay in hospital (WMD = -1.50, 95% CIs [-4.76, 1.77]) compared with placebo. Our findings indicate that the administration of propranolol to burned patients does not contribute to increased mortality rates, reduced length of hospital stays, or heightened sepsis occurrence. It demonstrates a protective effect on heart function by reducing heart rate, resting energy expenditure, rate pressure product, and wound healing. More randomized-controlled and multi-center studies are needed to effectively establish the use of beta antagonists in burn patients.

Sex-specific ultrasound imaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration in a mouse model

IntroductionEarly detection of neurodegeneration is essential for optimizing interventions. The highly reproducible progression of neurodegeneration in the decrepit (dcr) mouse allows investigation of early biomarkers and mechanisms of brain injury.MethodsUsing high-frequency ultrasound, the common carotid arteries of female and male dcr and control mice were imaged longitudinally at time points bracketing the disease progression (50, 75, and 125 days of age) (n = 6 mice/group/sex).ResultsOver the disease time course, the female dcr mice demonstrated increased carotid artery blood flow and pulse wave velocity while the male dcr mice had a decrease in heart rate and no change in carotid artery ultrasound parameters. Early imaging biomarkers were sex-specific, with decreased carotid artery blood flow in female dcr mice and increased carotid artery diameter and decreased pulse wave velocity in males.DiscussionCarotid artery and wave reflection ultrasound is a promising screening tool for early detection of neurodegeneration.

Effects of acute cooling and bradycardia on central venous pressure and cardiac function in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

We developed and validated a surgical technique to measure central venous pressure (CVP) in Nile tilapia, and investigated the effects of an acute temperature decrease (from 30 vs. 24°C) and changes in heart rate (fH) using zatebradine hydrocholoride, which decreases intrinsic fH, on this species' cardiac function. As predicted, fH and cardiac output ( ) were ~ 40% lower in the acutely cooled fish, and both groups had very comparable (i.e., within 10%) values for stroke volume (VS). The CVP of fish acutely exposed to 24°C was consistently ~ 0.04kPa higher than in those measured at 30°C across all concentrations of zatebradine (i.e., CVP increased from 0.04 to 0.11kPa vs. - 0.01-0.07kPa for 24 vs. 30°C tilapia, respectively, as fH was reduced). However, this did not result in an increase in VS due to a right-shifted relationship between CVP and VS for the 24°C fish. These data suggest that the VS of tilapia is less sensitive to changes/increases in CVP when temperature is acutely lowered, and that regardless of increases in preload (CVP), is primarily modulated by fH in this species.

Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Therapy Dogs to Animal-Assisted Treatment in an Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Program

Therapy dogs have been increasingly incorporated into a variety of medical treatment programs to improve patients’ treatment outcomes and wellbeing. However, research investigating the stress level of therapy dogs in this setting is limited. This is the first randomized–controlled and prospective study that investigated the wellbeing of therapy dogs in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program. In this study, 14 therapy dog–handler pairs were embedded in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program to provide animal-assisted treatment (AAT). These therapy dog–handler pairs actively participated in stroke rehabilitation by walking with the patient, playing fetch with the patient, and being petted/brushed by the patient, amongst various other AAT activities. To measure canine stress responses during the rehabilitation sessions, salivary cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, heart rate and heart rate variability, tympanic membrane temperature, and a behavioral evaluation were recorded before and after interactions with the patient. The results demonstrated that therapy dogs had significantly decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability after the AAT session. Right tympanic temperature significantly increased after the session, but there was no significant difference in terms of salivary cortisol or oxytocin levels, nor in stress-related behavioral evaluations after the AAT session. Taken together, the results suggest that incorporating AAT into an inpatient stroke rehabilitation program did not induce stress in the therapy dogs, and that the therapy dogs may have been more relaxed after the session.

Molecular insights into developmental toxicity induced by PCB77 exposure on zebrafish via integrating transcriptomics with adverse outcome pathway.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a typical type of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), were previously widely employed as insulating and heat exchange fluids in transformers and capacitors. Despite knowledge of its adverse effects, the precise mechanism underlying PCB77 toxicity remains enigmatic. In this study, we utilized zebrafish as a model organism to explore the toxic effects of various concentrations of PCB77 (10, 200, and 1000μg/L) and its molecular toxicity mechanisms. Upon exposure to dosages of PCB77 throughout embryonic and larval stages, the zebrafish exhibited adverse phenotypic manifestations, including deformities, decreased heart rates, increased distances between the bulbus arteriosus (BA) and sinus venosus (SV) and reduced locomotor ability. Transcriptome analysis revealed the common enriched pathways across all PCB77 concentration groups, such as retinol metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, which are closely related to the activity of cytochrome P450 (cyp1a) enzymes. Furthermore, Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework which integrates AOPs and dose-dependent transcriptomics to predict PCB77-induced adverse outcomes (AOs) revealed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) associated AOPs triggered by PCB77 exposure may increase early-life stage mortality and decrease cardiac development, indicating that the primary toxic pathways of PCB77 in zebrafish may involve AhR-mediated signaling. Besides, molecular docking modeling demonstrated that PCB77 could bind to the groove within the AhR domain, suggesting that PCB77 induces embryotoxicity in zebrafish through its interaction with AhR. Collectively, these findings not only deliver a thorough examination of PCB77-induced developmental toxicity as well as the underlying mechanisms, but also validate the efficacy of the analytical approach leveraging AOP framework in unraveling toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants, which holds promise for risk assessment associated with novel environmental pollutants.

Basic pharmacological evaluation of modified phenyl carbamic acid derivatives on cardiovascular functions under in vitro conditions in rats.

The study aimed to evaluate the basic pharmacological effects of modified phenyl carbamic acid derivates with a basic part made of N-phenylpiperazine (compounds 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) in Wistar rats. The compounds were evaluated for their ability to decrease the phenylephrine-induced contraction of the aortic strips of rats after repeated administration of the compounds and their ability to inhibit the positive chronotropic effect of isoproterenol on spontaneously beating rat atria. The ability to inhibit the vasoconstriction effect of phenylephrine was confirmed in all compounds in the range from 10.39 % to 13.65 %. The most significant vasoconstriction was achieved in compound 6d (86.35%, p < 0.001). None of the compounds reached the effect of carvedilol. All compounds proved an antagonistic ability to the positive chronotropic effect of isoproterenol. The highest value of the anti-isoproterenol effect was identified for the compound 6c (pA2 = 8.21 ± 0.56; p < 0.05). Only compound 6a decreased heart rate significantly (by 3.17%, p < 0.05), so we can indicate its potential negative chronotropic effect. The obtained results showed that the evaluated compounds confirmed the basic characteristics of beta-blockers with additional α-adrenolytic properties.

아로마 흡입법이 학업스트레스, 대학생활 스트레스에 미치는 효과

In this study, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on academic and university life stress by conducting aroma-free groups (I) and aroma-free groups (II) in 20s college students in North Gyeongsang Province, which blended Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Sweet Orange aroma essential oils at a ratio of 2:6:3. After the blended oil was inhaled through the nose, brain waves and heart rate were measured. Before and after brain waves and heart rate measurements and 42 items of stress survey were investigated. There was no statistically significant change in α-wave, β-wave, and heart rate in groups I and II, but there was a slight decrease in β-wave and heart rate(Group I), and α-wave slightly increased and heart rate decreased (Group II). In the survey on stress, group II had lower stress scores than I in study(A), emotion(D), and deep sleep(G). As the interest in studying is high, it is stressful, so it is believed that if you make the use of natural aroma a habit, you will enjoy a healthy college life.

Comprehensive analysis of voluntary wheel training effects on neural control of the heart rate in rats

Aerobic physical training is used to prevent and correct many cardiovascular disorders. To study the effects of such physical exercise, various methods of training are used in rodents, among which voluntary wheel running is of particular interest, because it is close to the natural rat locomotion in terms of the pattern of motor activity and is devoid of stressful influence. The aim of this work was a comprehensive study of the effects of wheel running on the nervous control of heart rate (HR) in rats. At the age of 6 weeks, the animals were divided into two groups: training (TR, free access to wheels, n = 11) and sedentary control (CON, n = 12). After 6 weeks of training, ECG was recorded in freely moving rats using skin electrodes in baseline, after blockade of cardiac nervous influences and under air-jet stress (4 min). The effects of the autonomic nervous system were analyzed by administering a β1-adrenergic blocker and a peripherally acting M-cholinoceptor blocker, and by analyzing cardiac rhythm variability using spectral and wavelet analyses. TR group showed a decrease in the baseline HR level compared to the CON group. The decrease in HR upon administration of atenolol (2 mg/kg) did not differ between the groups, but methylatropine (1 mg/kg) caused a more significant increase in HR in the TR group than in the CON group. With the combined action of atenolol and methylatropine, HR levels did not differ between the groups. The rats of the TR group showed an increase in the contribution of high-frequency (0.75–3 Hz) oscillations to the total spectrum power of the RR interval. During air-jet stress, TR group showed a more pronounced increase in HR compared to the CON group. In addition, in the TR group, a decrease in the amplitude of HR high-frequency oscillations was observed during stress, while in the CON group, such a decrease was absent. Thus, the voluntary wheel running is accompanied in the rat by an increase in parasympathetic influences on the heart, which is manifested in an increase in respiratory sinus arrhythmia and in an increase in vagal influence on the resting HR level. Moderate bradycardia at rest provides the possibility of a more pronounced increase in HR during emotional stress because of the suppression of parasympathetic cardiac influences.

AGING AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

According to the World Health Organization, the term “elderly” refers to people over the age of 65. Decreases in heart rate, heart function, oxygen consumption and stroke rate occur with aging. Many changes occur in the cardiovascular system with aging, and this predisposes to diseases. The aim of this review article is to examine the physiological relationship between aging and cardiovascular diseases. Depending on genetic differences and age, the heart's ability to pump blood decreases, the myocardium loses flexibility, and the heart valves thicken and increase in diameter. Aging is an inevitable part of life and constitutes the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Arteriosclerosis increases the thickness of blood vessels while decreasing their elasticity. Functional and structural changes in the cardiovascular system in older ages increase the risk of coronary artery disease, heart diseases, heart failure, venous thrombosis, and hypertension. Cardiac output and stroke volume decreases and the risk of postural hypotension increases. With advancing age, a continuous rise in systolic blood pressure occurs as a result of a hardening of the vessels and their diminished elasticity. After the age of 60, either a slight decrease or no change is seen in diastolic blood pressure.

Changes in heart rate variability at rest and during exercise in patients after a stroke: a feasibility study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a biofeedback-enhanced robotics-assisted tilt table (RATT) to investigate time- and intensity-dependent changes in heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and during heart rate-controlled exercise in patients recovering from a stroke. Twelve patients (age 55.3 years ± 15.6 years, 7 women) completed two separate measurement sessions. The first involved familiarization and system identification to determine parameters of a feedback system for automatic control of heart rate (HR). The second comprised 14 min of rest and 21 min of active exercise during which HR was held constant using feedback control to eliminate cardiovascular drift. HR data were collected using a chest-belt HR sensor, and raw RR intervals were employed for HRV analysis during periods of rest (0–7 min and 7–14 min) and exercise (5–13 min and 13–21 min). A biofeedback-enhanced, robotics-assisted tilt table can be successfully employed to perform heart rate-controlled exercises in patients after a stroke. All HRV metrics were substantially lower during exercise compared to rest. In the rest period, HRV values during 0–7 min were lower than during 7–14 min, in line with a slight HR decrease over the entire rest period. During exercise, HRV values during 5–13 min were higher than during 13–21 min, suggesting a time-dependent HRV decrease. All HRV metrics exhibited intensity- and time-dependent changes: higher HRV at rest and decreasing HRV over time. Understanding these HRV characteristics will support the development of heart rate-controlled exercise regimens and protocols for examining HRV changes during exercise in patients.

Individuality Affects the Efficiency of Basketball Pre-Game Warm-Up on Players' Performance.

Pre-game warm-up is integral to athletes' preparation before a basketball game. The main objectives of this study were to compare specific performance indicators before and immediately after a basketball pre-game warm-up, and examine the individualized players' responses. The impact of rest intervals after warm-up (9-23 min) was also examined. A total of 20 male basketball players (age: 21.15 ± 2.2 years; body mass: 82.23 ± 10.78 kg; body height: 184.18 ± 7.9 cm) performed a pre-game warm-up and were assessed in selected indicators such as heart rate (HR), flexibility, running speed, and countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJAS) before, immediately after, 9 min and 23 min after warm-up. Immediately after warm-up, HR increased to all players (mean change: 69.78%), while flexibility (mean change: 20.14%) and CMJAS (mean change: 4.95%) increased to the majority of players (except one and two players, respectively). The individualized results regarding speed were conflicting, showing a decrease or increase. However, 9 and 23 min after warm-up, there was a decrease in HR, speed, and CMJAS (p < 0.5), while flexibility remained stable (p > 0.5) in the total sample, with great change variations among players. In conclusion, it seems that each player's individuality may affect the warm-up's efficiency. Thus, it is important to carefully design the pre-game warm-up so that all players will be in the most suitable condition to meet the demands of their competition.

From interoception to control over the internal body: The ideomotor hypothesis of voluntary interoaction.

When it comes to body movements in external space, people are experts in learning fine-grained voluntary control, for example, when manipulating tiny objects. Voluntarily controlling actions in the internal body (e.g., decreasing heart rate), however, is far more difficult and requires dedicated training, for example, in meditation or yoga. Not much is currently known about the learning mechanism underlying the acquisition of voluntary control over internal visceromotor actions (i.e., interoaction) or why it is so difficult compared to controlling our external somatomotor actions (i.e., exteroaction). We propose the ideomotor hypothesis of voluntary interoaction in this article, which asserts that voluntary exteroactions and interoactions are governed by the same general principle, namely, the anticipation of sensory feedback. We apply this hypothesis to two techniques that can be used to acquire voluntary control over interoactions, that is, autogenic training and biofeedback training. As the afferent signal we receive from interoaction (i.e., interoceptive signals from the internal body) is of lower sensory quality than the afferent signal that we receive from exteroaction (i.e., exteroceptive signals from the external environment), this hypothesis explains why learning to control interoactions is more difficult. We propose ways in which to test predictions from this hypothesis and show its theoretical value by comparing it to other frameworks in the literature. We hope that this work motivates future empirical studies directly examining voluntary interoaction and its clinical applications, such as autogenic and biofeedback training, and mind-body practices more generally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Heart Rate Index as a Measure of Physical Workload in Chainsaw Operations

Timber harvesting operations, including manual and motor-manual activities, require workers who are in good health to be able to work effectively. The aim of our paper was to introduce a simplified index methodology for workload assessment. Generally available wearable technology, namely Garmin, Biostrap, and Whoop devices, were used. The dependence of the heart rate (HR) on physical workload was examined to calculate the Heart Rate Index. The case study was performed with several variations of chainsaw devices cutting the poplar wood. It was proved that the use of a heavier work tool, MS 500i/90 cm 9.3 kg, contributes both to the creation of a non-ergonomic working position and to an increase in the energy required to perform work, which was represented by an increase in heart rate. With a lighter work tool and a shorter cutting blade, both a decrease in heart rate and a reduction in the working time performed in a non-ergonomic position were achieved. The results can be used in common practice for workers’ self-assessment to increase safety and health protection at work or work productivity, not only in forestry-related professions.

Effects of Valproic Acid Embryonic Exposure on Zebrafish: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during embryogenesis has become a valuable tool for modeling neurodevelopmental disorders in animal models such as zebrafish (Danio rerio). This article examines the effects of embryonic exposure to VPA in zebrafish on the basis of 39 articles sourced from PubMed and Google Scholar. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to elucidate the common impacts of VPA exposure and reported that VPA significantly altered development at various levels. Behaviorally, zebrafish exposed to VPA exhibit notable changes in their social interaction patterns. Physiologically, VPA exposure leads to significant alterations, including decreased heart rates, increased mortality rates, and pronounced morphological abnormalities. Pharmacological exposure has been linked to neuroanatomical and neurochemical changes. At the genetic level, VPA exposure is associated with the differential expression of genes involved in neurodevelopment and neuronal function. The synthesized data from these studies underscore the utility of zebrafish as a model organism for investigating the effects of teratogen exposure on neurodevelopment.

Physiological impact of oral carbohydrate preload in healthy volunteers.

Oral carbohydrate loading has become a key component of Enhanced Recovery After Major Surgery (ERAS) pathways, with potential improvements in patient comfort, nausea and vomiting, ileus and length of stay. The contribution of each component of ERAS, including carbohydrate beverages, remains unclear. We aimed to determine the impact of standardized oral carbohydrate fluid loading on haemodynamics, stroke volume and gastric state in a group of healthy volunteers. Twenty-three volunteer participants free of known cardiovascular or gastrointestinal disease, consumed 400 mL of a proprietary carbohydrate solution. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), stroke volume (SV) and gastric cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured with bedside ultrasound at baseline, 30/60/120 min post-ingestion. There were small decreases in HR, BP (<10%) that were statistically significant. There were small increases (<10%) in SV at 30 and 60 min post-ingestion, but SV had returned to baseline by 120 min. There were no changes in SV variation. Gastric CSA increased immediately post-ingestion, then decreased in a linear fashion before returning to baseline by 120 min. In a standard 400 mL dose of a carbohydrate beverage, only small increases in SV could be demonstrated in the first-hour post-ingestion. All patients had largely returned to their baseline SV and gastric CSA state within 2 h post-fluid ingestion. A mild decrease in HR and BP was noted that persisted at 120 min. A 400 mL carbohydrate beverage does not appear to have favourable cardiovascular effects in a healthy population.

Teacher stress in social interactions in the light of polyvagal theory. An ambulatory assessment approach to teachers' heart rate and heart rate variability.

Teaching is a genuinely social and highly demanding task. Drawing on Porges' phylogenetic polyvagal theory with three evolved systems and three associated behavioral responses (social engagement, mobilization, and immobilization), we investigated teachers' heart rate and heart rate variability in social interactions using ambulatory assessments. We continuously measured heart rate and heart rate variability of 42 apparently healthy teachers on a work and leisure day with ambulatory electrocardiogram. We videotaped four consecutive, same-day lectures of each teacher. We trained observers to code student aggression and frontal teaching behaviors in an event sampling procedure with the behavior observation system for analyzing aggressive behavior in school settings. Additionally, perceived teacher-student relationship, social support from other teachers / school management, occupational complaints, and vital exhaustion were assessed by teacher self-reports. Teachers showed an increased heart rate and a decreased heart rate variability on a workday compared to a leisure day, anticipatory stress before classes, as well as insufficient recovery during lunchtime. Observed student aggression and high proportion of frontal teaching were associated with lower heart rate variability, while better perceived teacher-student relationship was correlated with higher heart rate variability. Differently, teachers' psychological strain and heart rate variability were unrelated to each other. Corresponding to polyvagal theory, results suggest that successful social interactions are fundamental for teachers' favorable cardiological reactions.

The Impact of BMI on Heart Rate During Suspension Laryngoscopy Operation in Patients With Laryngeal Lesions: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Suspension laryngoscopy can trigger vagal reflexes, leading to a decrease in heart rate, a phenomenon that is more common in patients with a high body mass index (BMI). This study aims to systematically evaluate the effect of BMI on heart rate during suspension laryngoscopy (SL-HR) in patients with laryngeal lesions. We employed univariate generalized linear regression and stratified analyses to assess the relationship between BMI and changes in SLHR, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, intubation type, and depth. A generalized additive model with spline smoothing was utilized to evaluate the BMI-HR relationship, with piecewise linear regression to identify specific cutoff points. We conducted a prospective study of 205 patients who underwent general anesthesia for suspension laryngoscopy. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that, after adjusting for covariates, each one-unit increase in BMI was associated with a decrease of 1.04 beats per minute in SL-HR (β=-1.04 [95% CI, -1.85 to -0.23]). Curve fitting revealed a gradual decline in SL-HR with increasing BMI, plateauing at around 60 beats per minute. The decrease in SL-HR became more pronounced as BMI approached 30kg/m², with further analysis revealing an inflection point at a BMI of 28.8kg/m², where each additional unit of BMI correlated with a 6.5 beats per minute decrease in heart rate (β =-6.5 [95% CI, -10.1 to -2.8], P <0.001). Patients with high BMI are more prone to vagal reflexes during suspension laryngoscopy, resulting in significant reductions in heart rate, especially when BMI exceeds 28.8kg/m². Therefore, close monitoring of heart rate changes is crucial in this patient demographic, along with considering prophylactic anticholinergic agents to mitigate vagal reflex effects.

Remimazolam anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease: a retrospective observational study.

Benzodiazepines are used in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) because of their mild hemodynamic depressant effects. A novel short-acting benzodiazepine, remimazolam, is expected to be suitable for these patients. We examined the characteristics of remimazolam anesthesia in pediatric patients with CHD undergoing cardiac catheterization. This single-center retrospective study included pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for CHD. The primary outcome was the remimazolam dose for loss of consciousness. Secondary outcomes included the mean maintenance remimazolam dose, recovery time from anesthesia, predicted remimazolam concentration at emergence, decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, vasopressor administration during anesthesia, electroencephalogram index (bispectral index: BIS or patient state index: PSI), and life-threatening adverse events. Thirty-nine patients, aged 2months to 16years, were included. Thirty-three patients received a median [interquartile] midazolam dose of 0.10 [0.10-0.10] mg.kg-1 in the pre-anesthesia room. The remimazolam dose for loss of consciousness was 0.34 [0.26-0.45] mg.kg-1. The mean maintenance dose was 1.0 [0.8-1.4] mg.kg-1.h-1. The recovery time was 15 [12-17] min. The predicted remimazolam concentration at emergence was 0.4-1.2µg.ml-1 in 3-6-year-old patients. Blood pressure and heart rate decreased by 30% in 15 and 6 patients, respectively. Vasopressors were administered as a bolus in 8 patients. The BIS or PSI did not fall ≤ 60 or ≤ 50, respectively, in 51% of patients before tracheal intubation. No life-threatening adverse events were reported. Remimazolam is a good alternative anesthetic agent for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for CHD.

Development of measures to assess listening-related effort and fatigue in daily life among hearing aid users: protocol for a quantitative field trial

IntroductionIndividuals with hearing loss and hearing aid users report higher levels of listening effort and fatigue in daily life compared with those with normal hearing. However, there is a lack...

The effects of Baduanjin exercise on the psychological condition and heart rate variability of sports-disadvantaged college students: A randomised trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of a 16-week Baduanjin exercise programme on the psychological status and heart rate variability (HRV) of college students in a sports-disadvantaged group, offering a theoretical basis for the potential of Baduanjin exercise to improve mental health.Trial DesignThis prospective study enrolled 93 college students from Wuyi University, exempt from the National Standards for Students’ Physical Health due to illness or disability. The participants were divided into a control group (n = 47) and an experimental group (n = 46). Over 16 weeks, the experimental group engaged in the Baduanjin exercise, whereas the control group did not participate in regular physical training.MethodsWe assessed the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R, the primary outcome) scores and HRV (time domain and frequency domain indices, the secondary outcomes) of all participants both before and after the 16-week programme.Results(1) Post-16 weeks of Baduanjin exercise, a statistically significant difference was observed in the SCL-90-R scores between the control and experimental groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Notably, the scores for interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, psychoticism, and other factors (predominantly relating to sleep and diet) were significantly lower in the experimental group (t = 4.234, 2.616, 3.450, 2.226, 3.980, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (2) Following the exercise regimen, the experimental group showed a substantial decrease in heart rate, low-frequency (LF) power, and the LF/high-frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio), and a significant increase in HF compared with the control group (t = 2.358, 4.528, − 2.595, P < 0.05 P < 0.01).ConclusionSixteen weeks of Baduanjin exercise may substantially enhance HRV, potentially aiding in balancing sympathetic–vagal nerve activity and thus contributing to the regulation of mental health.