Single session of integrated "silver yoga" program improves cardiovascular parameters in senior citizens

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular health is a major concern in aging populations.
• Yoga, an ancient practice, is increasingly explored for its therapeutic benefits.
• An integrated yoga program, 'Silver Yoga,' was developed for senior citizens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the immediate cardiovascular effects of a single session of integrated 'Silver Yoga' in geriatric individuals.
• To assess changes in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and derived cardiovascular indices.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 124 senior citizens (mean age 67.19 years) was conducted.
• Participants engaged in a 60-minute integrated 'Silver Yoga' session.
• Cardiovascular parameters including HR, systolic (SP) and diastolic pressure (DP), pulse pressure (PP), mean pressure (MP), rate-pressure product (RPP), and double product (DoP) were measured pre- and post-session.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction was observed in HR (P < 0.0001), RPP (P < 0.0001), and DoP (P < 0.0001).
• Systolic pressure (SP) and pulse pressure (PP) also showed significant decreases (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively).
• Mean pressure (MP) approached significance (P = 0.054), while diastolic pressure (DP) did not show a significant change.

Conclusions:

• A single session of integrated 'Silver Yoga' demonstrates a healthy reduction in cardiovascular parameters in geriatric subjects.
• These positive effects may stem from improved cardiac autonomic function due to coordinated breath-body movement and mind-body relaxation.
• The findings suggest 'Silver Yoga' as a potentially beneficial intervention for cardiovascular health in seniors.