Study of Effect of Shavasana on Handgrip and Cold Pressor Test on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure in Young Adults.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Sandip R. Sardessai,
Professor and HOD,
Department of Physiology,
Goa Medical College,
Bambolim, Goa, India.
E-mail: dr.sandipsardessai@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Shavasana or a corpse pose is the final pose of a yoga flow. When practiced regularly it is known to restore the body and mind. Aim of our present study was to investigate the effects of shavasana on handgrip and cold pressor test on heart rate and blood pressure in apparently healthy young adults. In today’s world all of us are under constant stress and majority of individuals with sedentary lifestyle suffer from hypertension and each of us react differently to varied internal and external stimuli.

METHODS

For convenience, we took 300 apparently healthy medical students of both sexes in the age group of 18 to 22 years and a comparative study was carried out among them. Their basal pulse and BP were recorded from dominant hand. For Hand Grip Test (HGT) handgrip dynamometer (INCO) was used by left hand, and pulse and BP from right hand was recorded and similarly Cold Pressor Test (CPT) was carried out by immersing left hand up to wrist joint in cold water mixed with ice cubes to maintain temperature at 4⁰C and pulse and BP was recorded from right hand. Shavasana was performed for 15 minutes by lying down on the wooden couch, with eyes closed and lying on back, keeping arms six inches away from the body and legs and feet “drop” open and palms facing upwards and concentrating on their breathing, after which pulse and BP was recorded. This was carried out for a period of 30 days.

RESULTS

Data was collected and analysed using paired ‘t’ test and paired differences were calculated using 95% confidence interval of the difference and p value of < 0.05 was taken as scientifically significant. In our study we found that there is significant decrease in basal pulse rate, when compared with CPT, immediately and after performing shavasana for a period of one month, and there was significant increase in pulse rate following HGT (p< 0.001) (table 1 and graph 1). Compared to basal, SBP and DBP, it was observed that there is significant decrease; immediately and after performing shavasana for one month and significant increase with HGT and CPT was observed (p<0.001) (table 1 and graph 1).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant decrease in basal pulse rate, when compared with CPT, immediately and after performing shavasana for a period of one month, and there was significant increase in pulse rate following HGT (p< 0.001) (table 1 and graph 1). Compared to basal, SBP and DBP it was observed that there is significant decrease; immediately and after performing shavasana for one month and significant increase with HGT and CPT was observed (p<0.001) (table 1 and graph 1).

KEY WORDS

HGT, CPT, Shavasana, Hand Immersion in Cold Water at 4⁰C, SBP, DBP.