Impact of yoga on the central and peripheral vascular function among desk-based workers: A single-centred trial study

TL;DR

This study found that yoga improves vascular function in desk-based workers during prolonged sitting, offering a practical way to counter health risks without changing work habits.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel yoga-based intervention to mitigate vascular issues caused by prolonged sitting in office workers.

Findings

Yoga intervention improved vascular function compared to prolonged sitting.

Pranayama and yoga practices showed positive effects on carotid and femoral artery measurements.

The routine can be integrated into work culture to reduce health risks from sitting.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to observe and analyze vascular function in ‘prolonged sitting’, followed by a yoga routine and pranayama intervention. Participants in this study include those who work from desks in offices. The study required the participants to attend on three separate days at random, and they had to finish a computerized test on each day. On the first day, participants were required to complete a computer test while sitting still for four hours (with the exception of washroom breaks). The next day, they underwent a computerized test along with a pranayama intervention. Finally, on the last day, they underwent a computerized test along with a yoga intervention. At the start of the study and after two and four hours, we measured the diameter and velocity of the common carotid artery (CCA) and superficial femoral artery (SFA).

The study was a within-subjects prospective single-center trial conducted in the Department of Radio-Diagnosis and Imaging, Kasturba Medical Hospital, Manipal, India, between September 2022 and January 2023. Participants were asked to do one of the following ‘activities’ over successive weeks: Week 1 – Prolonged sitting; Week 2 – Pranayama intervention; and Week 3 – Yoga intervention during prolonged sitting. The baseline and follow-up variables of pulse velocity, endothelial thickness, and shear rate were assessed for normality through a Shapiro-Wilk Test.

Our sample included 11 participants with moderate physical activity, five with high physical activity and one with low physical activity. Yoga intervention comprised participants sitting continuously for four hours, with a yoga session intervention being provided every hour, lasting for 10 minutes.

Yoga improves vascular functions in prolonged sitting conditions. This routine can promote the concept of interrupted sitting and ways to reduce it with efficient yoga practice without changing the work culture and provide better physical relief.

Clinical Trials Registry – India (
CTRI/2022/09/045628), date of registration: 19/09/2022(
CTRI/2022/9/045628)
https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/main1.php?EncHid=16349.27799,

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