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MODULATION OF AUTONOMIC FUNCTIONS AND LUNG FUNCTIONS IN SHAVASANA
AND FOOTBALLERS
Objectives of my study:
1. To compare the changes in autonomic response to cold pressor test in subjects
trained in shavasana and footballers.
2. To evaluate the beneficial effects of one month practice of shavasana on blood
pressure, resting pulse rate, pulse pressure and pulmonary function values.
3. To evaluate the beneficial effects of playing football on blood pressure, resting pulse
rate, pulse pressure and pulmonary function values.
4. To study the beneficial effect on rate pressure product in shavasana practitioners
and footballers compared to sedentary control group.
Introduction
Stress has become a problem harassing every single individual on earth, not
discriminating between rich and poor, employed or unemployed, busy or lazy. Every
individual is exposed to stress. Stress though is mental strain, effects every system in the
body through nervous and hormonal mechanisms. This causes severe damage to the
physiology of the effected, leading to complications with lifelong implications.
Yoga, practiced as combination of techniques is seen to have a significant effect on
lung volumes and cardiovascular parameters compared to basic low intensity exercises such
as walking or stretching. But the total duration of the training period was 3 months [1].
Similar changes in respiratory parameters also in young adults following regular yoga
practices for 4 weeks [2].
The ability of yoga practices to combat stress was tested by using a tool called heart
rate variability (HRV) in studies conducted on student group practicing shavasana for 6
weeks. It showed a significant alteration in cardiovascular parameters including rate
pressure product along with significant fall in the HRV, compared to the control group [3].
Similar study was done on subjects of both genders practicing shavasana for 4
weeks. Coping to stress was tested using cold pressor test (CPT). The test showed a rise in all
blood pressure values after exposure to cold, but responses were blunted when compared
to the control group, showing an improved mechanism to combat stress among the
shavasana group [4].
Studies were done on the efficacy of cold pressor test, mainly to find the various
factors which might alter the response. The study showed variations in response with
relation to both gender and age. The responses were higher in case of female subjects when
compared to the males. Similar heightened responses were also seen in subjects with high
body mass index, physical inactivity and also with alcohol consumption, showing a poorer
ability to combat stress [5].
Pulmonary function tests in the form of measurement of lung volumes give an
assessment of the functional capacity of the lungs. Pulmonary functions improve in subjects
taking part in sports. The improvement levels are different in different sports depending on
exercise intensity and duration. Studies have shown highest lung functions in swimmers.
Other sports include athletics and footballers [6]. The lung functions though higher than
sedentary groups, it was different from sportsmen who practiced in different countries [7].
Ability to combat stress, i.e. having a higher vagal tone was tested using deep
breathing test (DBT) in study done on adult young footballers of mean age 20 years. The test
showed a significant difference in DBT compared to the control group [8]. Similar studies
using HRV were done on functionally overreaching endurance athletes. The study showed a
significant reduction in heart rate after training, but weekly HRV could not show significant
difference because of day to day variability in parameters [9].
The main mechanism in stress induced disorders is increased sympathetic activity.
This can be reduced by either blunting the sympathetic response, or by increasing
parasympathetic activity. These alterations required for reducing effects of stress can be
achieved using yoga or even engaging in regular exercise. Thus the present study describes
usage of exercise for combating stress. Two techniques at extreme ends of physical activity
have been used and compared, sports in the form of playing football and yoga in the form of
shavasana, for a total duration of 30 days.
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