Prostration Position Research Articles

Muslim Prayer (Salah), and Its Restorative Effect: Psychophysiological Explanation

Stress is the most common problem experienced by people across ages and is associated with poor psychological and physical health. Stress is related to emotional and mental states that can be seen psychologically, namely relaxed and focused, also physiologically through the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS), both sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous systems (PNS). Salah, as obligatory Muslim worship, is a coping strategy beneficial for psychological and other aspects, such as physical and neurological health. Salah has a restorative effect, such as reducing mental fatigue and stress, as explained by attention restorative theory (ART) and stress restorative theory (SRT). Salah can reduce stress, psychologically and physiologically, indicated by an increment in PNS [nuHF of heart rate variability (HRV), galvanic skin responses (GSR), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) activity and a decrease in SNS (nuLF and LF/HF of HRV) also increase of alpha brainwave which part of the central nervous system (CNS). In terms of focus, concentration, and awareness, salah is perceived as giving the worshiper a better mental state. In addition, salah increases the gamma power, which is part of CNS and related to awareness. Interestingly, the relaxation effect of salah is higher in the prostration position; also, reciting the Holy Quran while doing salah has higher effects on focus and attention than mimic salah. Apart from the obligation of salah, the psychological and physiological benefits of salah should make a Muslim pray obediently, and the finding that reciting the Holy Quran ayah during salah and prostration has a higher effect shows that remembering Allah is vital.

Effect of prostrate position and coughing exercises upon level of dyspnea and persistent cough among non-intubated patients with COVID-19

Background: The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) causes clinical symptoms ranging in severity. Dyspnea and coughing are determined as one of the most significant problems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prostrate position and coughing exercises upon dyspnea and persistent cough levels among non-intubated patients with COVID-19. Method: An experimental study design was carried out in the COVID-19 wards in Imam Al-Hussein Medical City, from the period of October 2021 to March 2022. Results: More than 60% of the patients were elderly, 60% of the experimental group was male, and 53.3% of the control group was female, it is very useful to use prostrate position and coughing exercises to facilitate breathing patterns and decrease the severity of the cough. Conclusion: The prostration position and coughing exercises are very useful in improving gas exchange and relieving the severity of dyspnea and coughing in patients with COVID-19. In addition, this positive effect lasted for more than four hours of implementing the interventional protocol. Recommendations: Performing a prostrate position and coughing exercises one hour every four hours for patients with COVID-19 suffering from dyspnea and persistent cough.

Investigation of the EMG activity of erector spinae and trapezius muscles during Islamic prayer (Salat).

This study aimed to investigate the electrical activity of two muscles located at the dorsal surface during Islamic prayer (Salat). Specifically, the electromyography (EMG) activity of the erector spinae and trapezius muscles during four positions observed while performing Salat, namely standing, bowing, sitting and prostration, were investigated. Seven adult subjects with an average age of 28.1 (± 3.8) years were included in the study. EMG data were obtained from their trapezius and erector spinae muscles while the subjects maintained the specific positions of Salat. The EMG signal was analysed using time and frequency domain features. The results indicate that the trapezius muscle remains relaxed during the standing and sitting positions while the erector spinae muscle remains contracted during these two positions. Additionally, during the bowing and prostration positions of Salat, these two muscles exhibit the opposite activities: the trapezius muscle remains contracted while the erector spinae muscle remains relaxed. Overall, both muscles maintain a balance in terms of contraction and relaxation during bowing and prostration position. The irregularity of the neuro-muscular signal might cause pain and prevent Muslims from performing their obligatory prayer. This study will aid the accurate understanding of how the back muscles respond in specific postures during Salat.

The Effect of Prostration (Sajdah) on the Prefrontal Brain Activity: A Pilot Study.

Introduction:“Sajdah”, a prostration position, is part of Muslim daily prayers. It seems to have several effects on the brain and heart function. This study aimed to investigate the prefrontal brain activity after 10 seconds of Sajdah in the direction of Qibla (the direction that a Muslim prays) while putting the forehead on the ground.Methods:Three women and two men participated in this pilot study. Linear (absolute and relative power of θ (4–8Hz), α 1 (8–10 Hz), α 2 (10–12 Hz), β 1 (12–16 Hz), β 2 (16–20 Hz), β 3 (20–30 Hz), γ 1 (30–40 Hz), γ 2 (40–50 Hz) and non-linear features (approximate entropy, Katz fractal dimension, Petrosian fractal dimension, spectral entropy, and sample entropy) from Fps channel were calculated.Results:The relative β to γ band, approximate and sample entropy, Petrosian fractal dimension and mean of amplitude decreased in open eye state in women. While θ to γ bands in the closed eye state decreased after Sajdah in women. The absolute γ bands in closed eye state and relative β band in open eye state increased after Sajdah in men.Conclusion:The pilot study showed that 10 seconds of Sajdah has effects on brain activity and sometimes showed the opposite effect on genders.

Range of Motion Simulation of Hip Joint Movement During Salat Activity

BackgroundImpingement of an artificial hip joint because of limited range of motion (RoM) during human activity is one of the main sources of hip joint failure. The aim of this article is to simulate the RoMs of hip joints during salat, the practice of formal worship in Islam. MethodsSalat consists of several stages which can be represented with a cycle (raka'ah). Every raka'ah consists of standing, bowing (ruku'), straightening up (i'tidal), transition of standing toward prostrating, prostrating (sujud), and sitting. A virtual skeleton model was used to analyze the motion during salat for the possibility of the impingement occurrence. ResultsThe results of the simulation were presented in terms of maximum flexion, abduction, and internal or external rotation. The results also showed that the prostration position is similar in RoM with the Japanese zarei position and similar in RoM to pick up an object while sitting on a chair. ConclusionSpecific aspects of salat such as the difference in position of the 2 legs at the last sitting position create an extreme RoM which in turn results in a high risk of impingement.

EEG Spectral Analysis on Muslim Prayers

This study investigated the proposition of relaxation offered by performing the Muslim prayers by measuring the alpha brain activity in the frontal (F3-F4), central (C3-C4), parietal (P3-P4), and occipital (O1-O2) electrode placements using the International 10-20 System. Nine Muslim subjects were asked to perform the four required cycles of movements of Dhuha prayer, and the EEG were subsequently recorded with open eyes under three conditions, namely, resting, performing four cycles of prayer while reciting the specific verses and supplications, and performing four cycles of acted salat condition (prayer movements without any recitations). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests revealed that there were no significant difference in the mean alpha relative power (RP(α)) between the alpha amplitude in the Dhuha prayer and the acted conditions in all eight electrode positions. However, the mean RP(α) showed higher alpha amplitude during the prostration position of the Dhuha prayer and acted condition at the parietal and occipital regions in comparison to the resting condition. Findings were similar to other studies documenting increased alpha amplitude in parietal and occipital regions during meditation and mental concentration. The incidence of increased alpha amplitude suggested parasympathetic activation, thus indicating a state of relaxation. Subsequent studies are needed to delineate the role of mental concentration, and eye focus, on alpha wave amplitude while performing worshipping acts.

Effect of different wayson patients with acute myocardial infarction during defecation

：Objective To investigatethe effect of different ways on patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) duringdefecation so as to provide references for nurses to direct them to take appropriate andeffective defecation measures and reduce occurrence of complications arising fromdefecation. Methods 50 patients with AMI were randomly divided into experimental group(25) and control group (25); the experimental group adopted a bedside position, while thecontrol group took a traditional prostration position.Throughout the defecation,echocardiogram and blood pressure werecontinuously monitored, and defecation duration,whether or not solved, defecation exertion, level of comfort in two groups were compared.Results There was no significant difference in terms of defecation duration between thecontrol group and the experimental group, while there were significant differencesconcerning whether or not solved, the defecation exertion, level of comfort between thetwo groups (P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions Taking the prostration position was not the best way andcould not effectively reduce the occurrence of complications; taking the bedside positionduring defecation is proved to be a more appropriate and scientific alternative way forpatients who remained in the early stage of AMI without serious complications and withstable hemodynamics. Key words: Acute myocardial infarction; Defecation; Body position

Functional study of the remnant esophagus and intrathoracic stomach in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer

To investigate pathophysiological changes of the remnant esophagus and gastric cardia in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer, and to provide objective evidences for the improvement of the postoperative quality of life. The function of the remnant esophagus and intrathoracic stomach in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer were assessed objectively. The methods that we used were gastric scintigraphy, esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, electronic gastroscopy, videofluoroscopy, and DeMeester scoring system for the assessment of heartburn. Findings were recorded and compared with normal controls. After esophagectomy for cancer, the emptying of intrathoracic stomach was delayed (t = 7.105, P < 0.01) and improved over time, but could not reach normal one year after surgery (t = 2.9, P = 0.016). In patients who had undergone esophagectomy for cancer, the contracting pressure of the upper esophageal sphincter and resting pressure of the remnant esophagus were higher than that in normal controls (t = 2.275, P = 0.03; t = 2.16, P = 0.039 respectively). 89.7% of patients who had undergone esophagectomy had gastroesophageal reflux measured with 24-hour pH monitoring. The extent of reflux was less severe when patients were in a semi-reclining position than in a prostration position (t = 3.074, P = 0.005). After esophagectomy for cancer, delayed emptying of the intrathoracic stomach is improved gradually over time, but it is inaccessible to normal level. Gastroesophageal reflux extensively exists in patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer, but it can be lessened by taking semi-reclining position.