International Journal of Yoga最新文献

Background: COVID-19 pandemic posed a huge stress on health-care givers affecting their physical and mental health. Wellness strategies like yoga can improve flexibility, resilience, and outlook.

Aim: The present study explored the effect of 8-week standard common yoga protocol (CYP) intervention on autonomic functions, emotional stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in the nurse group of health-care givers.

Materials and methods: It is a randomized controlled trial where 50 nurses underwent CYP and 50 participated as controls. Anthropometric parameters, cardiovascular parameters, autonomic function including time and frequency domain parameters, biochemical parameters, and psychological stress using the questionnaire were assessed before and after 8-week CYP.

Results: Total 88 nurses completed the study with 42 and 46 participants, respectively, in the CYP and control groups. CYP intervention resulted in a significant reduction in cardiovascular parameters systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and rate pressure product (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively), perceived stress score and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale psychological variables of depression, anxiety, and stress, and serum lipid parameters compared to the control group. CYP significantly increased total power, low frequency, high frequency, root mean square of successive differences between adjacent NN intervals, change in successive normal sinus (NN) intervals exceeds 50 ms, and pNN50% (P < 0.001, P = 0.006, P = 0.006, P = 0.039, P < 0.001, and P = 0.013, respectively) suggesting improved resting autonomic modulation and parasympathodominance due to higher vagal efferent activity. There were significant reductions in serum cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 in both the groups. Serum telomerase significantly reduced (P = 0.024) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.036) increased in the CYP group post intervention.

Conclusion: CYP intervention was beneficial in improving psychophysiological, autonomic, and biochemical profile of the nurse group of health-care workers.

Background: Heart rate varies during breathing and the heart rate variability (HRV) facilitates the autonomic homeostatic capacity. The maximum HRV was observed at around 10 s of prolonged respiration as per HRV biofeedback literature. However, there is a gap in understanding the variations in HRV by different respiration lengths during simple Bhramari practice.

Objective: To assess the effect of various respiration lengths (8, 10, 12, and 14 s) on HRV during the simple Bhramari (humming) practice.

Methodology: A total of 118 individuals (67 males, 51 females) signed up for the study based on convenience sampling at a wellness center. A randomized (simple permutation) within-subject crossover design with repeated measures was used to measure their HRV during the simple Bhramari practice. The results were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and paired samples t-test.

Results: The results indicate that, unlike the 10 s of respiration during HRV biofeedback breathing, maximum HRV during humming happens between 12 and 14 s of long breathing.

Conclusions: The unique findings of the study demonstrate the maximization of HRV between the respiration lengths of 12 and 14 s. Future work should explore expanding the research to a broader group of participants, including individuals with chronic conditions and other demographic variables and mantra chanting.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk factors and evaluate the effectiveness of combined approach of yoga and diet in reducing cardiovascular risk factors among high-risk subjects.

Materials and methods: This interventional study was conducted at RUHS College of Medical Sciences and Associated Hospitals, Jaipur, on the high-risk population of either sex in the age group of 40-70 years. QRISK3 web calculator was used as the method of measurement for outcome of interest. The combined approach of yoga intervention includes yogic asanas and pranayamas and dietary modification.

Results: This study compared physiological parameters (blood pressure) and biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile) at baseline, three months and six months after yoga and diet intervention in participants who were at high-risk of cardiovascular disease development in future and were found to be having significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (P=0.000), fasting blood glucose (P=0.000), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) (P=0.011), total cholesterol-high density lipoprotein ratio (P=0.000), low density lipoprotein (P=0.009), triglyceride (P=0.034), and QRISK3 Score (P=0.000) after combined approach of yoga and diet.

Conclusions: This study concluded that the short-term combined approach of yoga-based life-style intervention and diet reduced cardiovascular risk factors in subjects at high-risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

This article provides a quantitative review of the potential applications of meditation-based interventions (MBIs) in addressing the major health issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The review assesses the effectiveness of MBIs on five prevalent disorders during the pandemic, namely depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and long COVID. This is achieved by selecting and scrutinizing seven studies that involve various types of online randomized controlled trials and utilize control group outcomes for effectiveness evaluation. The findings reveal a significant impact of MBIs on overall distress disorder, encompassing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, with effectiveness ranging from 20.5% to 68.8%. The interventions also show moderate effectiveness on insomnia disorder with improvements between 5.2% and 38.5%. However, the effectiveness on long COVID disorder presents a mixed picture, with improvements varying from 0.0% to 71.2% across 13 related symptoms or qualities examined. This review offers compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of MBIs in alleviating these five prevalent disorders resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Yoga is an emerging intervention causing improvement in physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Its role in improving outcomes in patients with amputation was investigated.

Methodology: Patients with traumatic lower limb amputation (n = 50) were enrolled and randomized to the Yoga group (n = 26) against control (n = 24). Sociodemographic details, quality of life (QOL) (World Health Organization QOL-BREF), Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS), Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and amputee body image score were applied at baseline, 6,-18 weeks of amputation.

Results: Sociodemographic and clinical variables were comparable between groups. At 18 weeks, the Yoga group had better QOL (P = 0.005) than the control group. Symptoms of depression (0.02) and anxiety (<0.001) reduced, and self-image (P = 0.015) improved significantly at 6 weeks, while stress (P = 0.003) reduced at 18 weeks in the yoga group. Despite comparable body image scores, the prosthesis usage (hours/day) was more (P = 0.005) in the Yoga (6.9 ± 3.2) group against the control (12 ± 2.7).

Conclusion: Yoga improves QOL and self-esteem and reduces depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in patients with traumatic amputation.

Background: The heterogenic manifestations of polycystic ovarian syndrome have led to various treatment approaches that include improving hormonal imbalance, weight management, and improving quality of life (QoL). Yoga therapy being a versatile treatment approach benefits physical and mental well-being and can be recommended to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the effect of structured yoga intervention on anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal, biochemical, ovarian morphology, and infertility-related QoL parameters among infertile women with PCOS.

Settings and design: A prospective, controlled before and after study was conducted at a Multidisciplinary PCOS Clinic in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Methodology: Infertile women with PCOS (26 participants in each group which includes intervention and control arm) seeking treatment for infertility at the Multidisciplinary PCOS Clinic at National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health. The intervention group received 90 min of structured yoga intervention for 3 months.

Statistical analysis: The median change in parameters between baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention was analyzed using IBM SPSS software, version 26 to perform descriptive analyses and Wilcoxon test to analyze pre- and postintervention parameters in the intervention and control group.

Results: There was a significant difference in the weight, basal metabolic rate, postglucose insulin, anti-Müllerian hormone, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, ultrasound parameters such as stromal thickness, follicle number per ovary, and QoL in infertility domain in the intervention group compared to the control group. Within 1 year of initiation of the study, 13 participants became pregnant in the yoga intervention group as compared to 7 participants in the control group.

Conclusion: The metabolic comorbidities of PCOS have adverse effects on the QoL and pregnancy outcome among infertile women with PCOS. This pilot study demonstrated that a 12-week yoga intervention brought overall improvement in anthropometric, hormonal, biochemical, ovarian morphology, and infertility-related QoL parameters compared to the control group. Integration of yoga in infertility management will help to improve the QoL and to optimize prepregnancy metabolic parameters among infertile women with PCOS.

Background: Previous surveys from countries other than India reported positive health behaviors in yoga practitioners. The present study aimed to determine with respect to yoga practitioners in India: (i) percentages of yoga practitioners who consumed specific foods, had additional physical activity and leisure activity, (ii) the association between these choices and their yoga practice, and (iii) the association of yoga with adding or avoiding specific foods and with meal timings in a day.

Materials and methods: This convenience hybrid-mode sampling survey was conducted on 551 yoga-experienced persons.

Results: (1) Yoga practitioner respondents ate fruits and vegetables regularly (62.1%), did not consume animal source products (69.2%), alcohol (98.0%), or tobacco (98.4%), had a regular physical activity other than yoga (77.5%) and leisure activities (92.2%). (2) More than 150 min/week of yoga practice and experience of yoga exceeding 60 months was (a) significantly associated with (i) regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, (ii) lower consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, animal source foods, tobacco, and alcohol (P < 0.05, Chi-square test) and (b) not associated with physical activity or leisure activities (P > 0.05, Chi-square test). (3) Yoga practitioners excluded sugar-sweetened beverages, animal-source foods and fast foods from their diet, whereas they added fruits, vegetables, and plant-based juices to their diet, with earlier first and last meals for the day.

Conclusion: In India, yoga practitioner respondents' choices for foods, physical activity, and leisure conform to accepted positive health behaviors. The exclusion of animal-source foods emphasizes the need for well-planned and fortified diets among vegan yoga practitioners.

Context: Intraocular pressure (IOP) increases during "sirasasana" and may be a risk factor for the progression of glaucoma. Other "head below heart" asanas may also cause increase in IOP.

Aims: To determine the change in IOP following three "head below the heart" postures-"meruasana", "viparithakarni," and "sarvangasana".

Settings and design: Prospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over 3 weeks.

Materials and methods: Willing, regular yoga practitioners recruited by purposive sampling performed "meruasana", "viparithakarni," and "sarvangasana" in random order according to a 3 × 3 periods cross over study design after baseline measurement of IOP, blood pressure (BP), and pulse rate. Each asana was held for 30 s. Within 15-30 s of completion of asana, IOP, BP, and pulse rate were recorded. There was an interval of 30 min between the asanas.

Statistical analysis used: Normality of data was tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Repeated measures of ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons was used to compare changes in IOP, BP, pulse rate following asana. P ≤ 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Results: There were 33 participants with a mean age of 29.6 ± 10.5 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 26.02, 33.18). The mean baseline IOP was 15.5 ± 3.4 mm Hg (95% CI: 14.34, 16.66) in the right eye and 16.7 ± 3.4 mm Hg (95% CI: 15.54, 17.86) in the left eye. IOP showed a significant reduction following each of the three asanas (P < 0.0001). However, neither pulse rate (P = 0.53) nor BP (P = 0.27) showed any change following the asanas.

Conclusions: "Meruasana," "viparithakarni," and "sarvangasana" when held for 30 s by healthy yoga practitioners resulted in post-asana drop in IOP with no significant change in pulse rate or BP.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality are rapidly growing worldwide. Cancer affects the overall quality of life of cancer patients. Yoga has its origin in the ancient times. This ancient practice has been used for holistic well-being for ages. Yoga as an alternative therapy might be beneficial for cancer patients too. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes, and yoga practices among cancer patients.

Materials and methods: For this cross-sectional survey, a self-designed questionnaire was validated and distributed among 25 cancer patients for a pilot study. Then, a full-fledged study was conducted based on the interviews of 1000 cancer patients at a tertiary care oncology unit and the data were analyzed using R 3.6.

Results: A total of 1000 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey. Out of 1000 participants, 91 were excluded as they responded that they were not familiar with the term "Yoga" in the first question of the questionnaire. Of 919 participants, 238 strongly agreed and 395 agreed with the question that people who practice yoga are less prone to diseases, showing that 68.87% of cancer patients have a positive attitude toward yoga. However, only 145 (15.77%) of the participants practice yoga regularly. Lack of time was the most common reason for not practicing yoga, and the other reasons were the lack of interest and insufficient facilities.

Conclusion: The present study on 1000 patients from the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh, highlights the fact that the majority of cancer patients are aware of yoga practice's benefits and if given the opportunity to learn appropriate techniques, yoga can further improve the outcome in such patients. There is a need to design the effective yoga programs for cancer patients to promote suitable yoga practices in this population.