Effects of Respiratory Yoga Training on Heart Rate Variability and Baroreflex of Healthy Elderly Subjects

NCT00969345 | Completed Phase 3

• 1 other identifier: RESP-HRV
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The decreases of physiological capacities which take place with senescence include diminishing respiratory capacity as well as a reduction of heart rate variability and baroreflex sensibility. Altogether, these alterations increase elderly people's frailty and have a negative impact over quality of life. Since Yoga (Indian auto-discipline) has a wide range of respiratory exercises already investigated as components for non-pharmacological treatments for hypertension (situation in which heart rate variability is also diminished), the investigators hypothesis is that the training of respiratory exercises of Yoga may have a significant positive effect on heart rate variability and baroreflex of health elderly subjects, increasing quality of life and reducing frailty. We included 30 health elderly subjects (both sexes, from 60 years-old onwards) divided into 2 randomized experimental groups: control (C) and respiration (R). Each group underwent an entry evaluation, followed by a 4-months training period, after which they were re-evaluated. Control consisted of 2 stretching classes per week, and respiration consisted of 2 respiratory exercises classes a week. Both groups were instructed to perform the exercises at home twice a day, and to keep a record of each session in a log sheet. Evaluations were: WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire for quality of life, 20 minutes of seated rest with heart rate, respiration and blood pressure acquired continuously for further spectral analysis.

Conditions

Elderly Subjects; Respiration Exercises

Keywords

Healthy Elderly Subjects; Respiratory Yoga Exercises; Heart Rate Variability; Baroreflex; Quality of Life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Heart Rate Variability

  4 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• baroreflex gain

  4 months

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Stretching exercises performed twice a day for 10 minutes (4 months)

Other: Stretching Exercises

Respiration Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Respiratory Yoga exercises performed twice a day for 10 minutes (4 months)

Other: Respiratory Exercises conducted twice a day for 10 minutes

Interventions

Stretching Exercises OTHER

Conducted twice a week, with instructions for home exercises twice a day, and registering each session on a log sheet.

Control Group

Respiratory Exercises conducted twice a day for 10 minutes OTHER

Conducted twice a week, with instructions for home exercises twice a day, and registering each session on a log sheet.

Respiration Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Health elderly subjects

You may not qualify if:

• Use of beta-blockers
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Previous training in respiratory exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sao Paulo: lead

Study Sites (1)

Heart Institute (InCor)

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Santaella DF, Devesa CR, Rojo MR, Amato MB, Drager LF, Casali KR, Montano N, Lorenzi-Filho G. Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2011 May 24;1(1):e000085. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000085.

  PMID: 22021757 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Danilo F Santaella

  Heart Institute (InCor)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Geraldo Lorenzi-Filho, MD, PhD

  Heart Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2009
• First Posted: September 1, 2009
• Study Start: August 1, 2007
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2008
• Study Completion: December 1, 2008
• Last Updated: September 1, 2009

Record last verified: 2009-08

Locations

BR (1)