AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE VERSUS YOGA IN YOUNG ADULTS ON PARAMETERS OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV)

Abstract

Background: Neural factors such as temperature, hormones, etc. are regulated by cardiovascular functions, in which neural factors mainly affect the autonomic-nervous system (ANS), which plays a major role in the maintenance & regulation of cardiac functions.

Aims & Objectives: To analyze of the effect of aerobic exercise versus yoga in young adults on parameters of heart rate variability (HRV)

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in a physiology department of a medical college over the six month span in which male & female adults with written & informed consent were involved in the study, so 70 volunteers were enrolled in the Yoga Group (Group A) & 70 volunteers in the Aerobic Exercise Group (Group B) during the six months period. Both of them have been regularly trained & adequately exercised for a span of 24 weeks by a yoga instructor & physical trainer. They noticed all the base line parameters. The study of HRV was derived from an ECG unit. The parameters were compared at baseline (by paired t-test) in both groups before & after 24 weeks in Group B & Group A by unpaired t-test & were determined with latest SPSS version software.

Results: The male-female ratio was comparable in both the groups as 2.5 : 1 & 1.9 : 1 groups (p>0.05). There was a substantial difference in changes over 12 weeks (p>0.05). The high-frequency HRV increased in the yoga community, where the reduction in the exercise group was statistically significant (p <0.05) & the decrease in the low frequency HRV & LF/HF ration was statistically significant (p <0.05) after 12 weeks of intervention.

Conclusion: From our research, it can be inferred that the Yoga group substantially raises the high frequency HRV & reduces the low frequency HRV, so that the parasympathetic activity is more determined in the Yoga group compared to the aerobic exercise group.

Keyword: HRV, Parasympathetic activity, Yoga, Aerobic exercise, ECG