Effects of Yoga on Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Responses to Stress

Kaohsiung Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Video Watching; Behavioral: Hatha Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04897230

KMUH-IRB-20120375

Details and patient eligibility

About

Introduction: Yoga has been shown to reduce stress and have benefits for a number of stress-related disorders. However, the effects of an acute bout of yoga practice on cardiac autonomic response to and recovery from stress remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of a single bout of yoga on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) response to and recovery from mental stress.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design. A total of 44 participants completed two sessions (yoga and video watching (VW)) in randomly assigned order. After each condition, participants underwent a Stroop task and mental arithmetic task. Electrocardiogram was measured and HR and HRV for resting, each condition, and the stress and recovery periods were analyzed.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• aged between 20 and 40 years old
• a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30
• being sedentary

Exclusion criteria

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities (e.g., arrhythmia, atrioventricular blocks)
• history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or renal disease
• contraindications for exercise (e.g., orthopedic problems)
• involvement in any yoga practice
• being pregnant or nursing
• use of tobacco products or medications that may affect cardiovascular function

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Hatha Yoga Condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

An experienced yoga instructor led the 30 minutes yoga condition session which consisted of 5 minutes warm up, 5 minutes breathing exercises, and 20 minutes yoga poses practice. The yoga props were used according to each participant's particular body type and needs to help he/she achieve precise yoga postures safely and comfortably.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hatha Yoga

Control Condition

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control condition were watching a neutral video on a television.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Video Watching