ABSTRACT
Suryanamaskar (SN), a yogic technique is composed of dynamic muscular movements synchronised with deep rhythmic breathing. As it may have influence on CNS, this study planned to investigate immediate effects of SN on reaction time (RT) and heart rate (HR). 21 female volunteers attending yoga classes were recruited for study group and 19 female volunteers not participating in yoga were recruited as external-controls. HR, auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were recorded before and after three rounds of SN in study group as well as 5 minutes of quiet sitting in both groups. Performance of SN produced immediate decrease in both VRT and ART (P<0.001). This was significant when compared to self-control period (P<0.001) and compared to externalcontrol group, it decreased significantly in ART (p=0.02). This was pronounced when Δ% was compared between groups (P<0.001). HR increased significantly following SN compared with both self-control (p=0.025) and external-control group (p=0.032). Faster reactivity may be due to intermediate level of arousal by conscious synchronisation of dynamic movements with breathing. Rise in HR is attributed to sympathetic arousal and muscular exertion. We suggest that SN may be used as an effective training means to improve neuro-muscular abilities.
ABSTRACT
Mentally challenged individuals are known to have slower speed of reaction. As a previous study has shown immediate improvement in reaction time (RT) following mukha bhastrika, a bellows type of pranayama, we planned to study the effect of this pranayama in mentally challenged adolescents. 34 mentally challenged adolescents (15.1±0.806 y) studying in a school for Special Needs were recruited as they have been receiving yoga training once a week for more than 3 years. Exclusion criteria were inability to either perform mukha bhastrika or to understand procedure for testing RT. Visual (VRT) and auditory reaction time (ART) was measured using RT apparatus before and after nine rounds of mukha bhastrika and a control period of ten minutes of normal activities to rule out any test-retest practice effect. Analysis of non-intervention period values showed that the reliability in terms of reproducibility of the observation for both VRT (r=0.87) and ART (r=0.95) was excellent. Mukha bhastrika produced an immediate and significant decrease in both VRT and ART. There was a statistically significant decrease in VRT (P<0.0001) from 296.15 ms±13.49 to 263.59 ms±12.53 and ART (P<0.0001) from 247.88 ms±14.33 to 217.35 ms±11.36 following mukha bhastrika. Decrease in RT signifies improved central neuronal processing ability. This may be due to greater arousal and faster rate of information processing, improved concentration and/or ability to ignore or inhibit extraneous stimuli. Mukha bhastrika may be altering afferent inputs from abdominal and thoracic regions, in turn modulating activity at ascending reticular activating system and thalamo-cortical levels. It is suggested that yogic breathing techniques like mukha bhastrika be used as an effective means of improving neuromuscular abilities in special children.