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Pranayama Practice on the Autonomic Nervous System

NCT03280589 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: EARLY_PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 25

Last updated 2023-03-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The proposed study design will be a randomized, cross-over trial testing different pranayama breathing interventions. Participants (N=40) will perform each of the following five interventions in a randomly assigned order: (1) internal-paced pranayama intervention (Sheetali/Sheetkari for 10 minutes each) (2) internal-paced deep breathing control (3) external-paced pranayama intervention at a rate of 6 bpm (4) external-paced deep breathing at a rate of 6 bpm (5) sitting quietly with no external instruction.

Conditions

  • Pranayama Effect on Autonomic Nervous System
  • Respiration Variability Effect on Nervous System

Interventions

OTHER

Sheetali/Sheekari Pranayama

Most pranayama involves (1) sitting quietly, (2) deep breathing (completely filling and emptying the lungs, at a slow/comfortable pace, with awareness), and (3) a specific mouth, tongue, lip and/or body shape, theorized to enhance the effects of the practice. Practitioners of pranayama modulate the cycles of inspiration and expiration, in a way that is theorized to achieve influence over autonomic functions such as heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and baroreflex \[6\]. For example, the manipulation of the tongue and face during Sheetali and Sheetkari pranayama is intended to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system activity and inhibit the sympathetic nervous system.

OTHER

Sitting Quietly

Participant breaths in their natural way with out instruction

OTHER

Deep breathing

Participant is required to pay attention to each breath

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National University of Natural Medicine

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
25 Years
Max Age
55 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-08-15
Primary Completion
2019-05-15
Completion
2021-07-21

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03280589 on ClinicalTrials.gov