Effect of Age on Response of 61-Point Relaxation Technique on Cardiovascular variables in Females
Abstract
Stress affects mainly on autonomic nervous system of individuals and relaxation techniques has the opposite of the stress response. 61-point relaxation technique is one of the relaxation techniques but there are some factors on which its grading of response is dependent. So this study is aimed to find out the effect of age on response of 61-point relaxation technique on cardio-vascular variables. Study was conducted on 30 healthy females of equals to or less than 30 years and 30 healthy females of more than 30 years. Before and after relaxation technique data regarding systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded. Significance of difference in means of baseline and end line data SBP, DBP, HR and RR of both the groups were inferred by unpaired ‘t’ test. It was found that there was significant reduction of SBP, DBP, HR and RR in both the groups but significant difference in reduction was observed only in SBP and RR not in DBP and HR. Reduction in SBP was significantly more in more than 30 years than the other group whereas reduction in RR was just reverse.
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Introduction
Nowadays psychosomatic diseases are on increase where stress is main predisposing factor. Stress disturbs the balance of two arms of autonomic nervous system - sympathetic & para sympathetic system1 . Relaxation has the opposite of the stress response 2 . Physical and mental relaxation, as achieved during relaxation techniques, has physiological effects such as an increase in EEG alpha activity, reduction in respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, arterial lactate levels and other sympathetic activity. 1,3,4
The ancient yogic scriptures write about many variants of relaxation technique. Among these the SHAVASANA is a well established technique of yoga to relax the body & mind5 . 61-point relaxation technique is one of these relaxation techniques which also called Shava-yatra or Shavashana because in this exercise one moves from the shthula sharira (the physical body) to the sukshma sharira (the subtle body). In 61-point relaxations focus is given to 61 major energy points in the body. It is a guided relaxation technique in which a person is directed to pay attention to specific key points in the body & calm them down so that whole body is completely relaxed. 1,6,7,
Conclusion
Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate reduces with 61-point relaxation technique but effect of age on this response on all above parameters were concerned it was found that Systolic Blood Pressure and Respiratory Rate is affected with age in reducing these supra-said parameters. This reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure was more in older women than younger ones whereas reduction in Respiratory Rate was more in younger women than older ones.