Korean J Health Promot.  2014 Dec;14(4):147-154. 10.15384/kjhp.2014.14.4.147.

Effect of Yoga on Heart Rate Variability in Women with Metabolic Syndrome

• Kim HN
• Seo JA
• Song SW

• KMID: 2247298
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15384/kjhp.2014.14.4.147

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between yoga and autonomic nervous system in women with metabolic syndrome.
METHODS
A randomized controlled study was performed in participants recruited from a public center for managing chronic diseases located in Gyeong-gi Province. The 39 women participants diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to the 12-week yoga exercise group (n=22) or the wait-listed control group (n=17). Biochemical laboratory tests and heart rate variability were measured before and after the 12-week program.
RESULTS
In post-menopausal women, the low frequency power of frequency domain significantly decreased in the yoga exercise group compared to the control group (P=0.07). On the time domain of heart rate variability and metabolic syndrome components, there were no significant differences between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Sympathetic activity was decreased in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome who practiced yoga. Our results suggest that yoga might be beneficial in improving the autonomic nervous system in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

Keyword

Metabolic syndrome; Yoga; Autonomic nervous system; Heart rate variability

MeSH Terms

Autonomic Nervous System
Chronic Disease
Female
Heart Rate*
Humans
Yoga*

Reference

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