Modulation of Stress Induced by Isometric Handgrip
Test in Hypertensive Patients Following Yogic
Relaxation Training

Vijayalakshmi P.*, Madanmohan, Bhavanani A. B.,
Asmita Patil and Kumar Babu P.†

Department of Physiology and †Staff & Students’ Health Centre,
Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research,
Pondicherry – 605 006

( Received on February 15, 2003 )

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Abstract

13 essential hypertensive patients aged 41 to 60 years were given yoga training for 60 min daily, Monday through Saturday, for a total duration of 4 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured with non-invasive semi-automatic blood pressure monitor. Measurements were recorded before the training and at weekly intervals during the 4 week training period. Results of our study show a significant (P<0.001) reduction in resting HR and rate-pressure-product (RPP) after 2 weeks of yoga training. Systolic pressure (SP), diastolic pressure (DP) (P<0.001) and mean pressure (MP) (P<0.05) showed a significant reduction at 3 weeks of training period. After 4 weeks of training, there was further fall in SP, DP, pulse pressure (PP) (P<0.05), MP (P<0.001), HR and RPP. Isometric handgrip test before yoga training produced a significant rise in SP and MP and insignificant rise in DP, HR and RPP. After yoga training, there was a significant rise in all these parameters. Our results show that yoga training optimises the sympathetic response to stressful stimuli like isometric handgrip test and restores the autonomic regulatory reflex mechanisms in hypertensive patients.