Tanriverdi A1, Savci S2, Ozcan Kahraman B2, Ozsoy I3, Ozpelit E4
1Dokuz Eylul University, Graduate School of Health Science, Izmir, Turkey, 2Dokuz Eylul University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey, 3Kırsehir Ahi Evran University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kırsehir, Turkey, 4Dokuz Eylul University, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
Background: It is known that diaphragmatic breathing, which is often used clinically in many disease groups, improves abnormal chest wall movement, reduces respiratory work and optimizes ventilation distribution. However, the acute effects of diaphragmatic breathing on arterial stiffness and autonomic function are not well known.
Purpose: To evaluate the changes in arterial stiffness and autonomic function after diaphragmatic breathing in healthy individuals.
Methods: Twenty six healthy voluntary individuals (12 female and 14 male) aged between 19 and 25 participated in the study. The first session consisted of informed consent, assessment of pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, and familiarization of the diaphragmatic breathing. The second session was performed consecutive day. Diaphragmatic breathing was maintained for 15 minutes in physiotherapist supervision. Arterial stiffness was assessed with aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV). Hearth rate variability (HRV) was used to measure autonomic function. Time (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals (SDNN), and square root of the mean squared difference of successive normal to normal R-R intervals (RMSSD), the percentage of successive NN intervals with a difference of duration longer than 50 ms (pNN50)) and frequency domain (low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF) evaluations of HRV were obtained from five-minute ECG recording. All parameters, blood pressure, AoPWV, heart rate, SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, absolute LF, absolute HF, and LF/HF were recorded before and after the intervention.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.23 ± 1.23 years and the mean body mass index was 22.71 ± 2.66 kg/m². There was a significant difference in central and brachial systolic blood pressures between interventions (p 0.005). AoPWV was similar between pre- and post-diaphragmatic breathing (p>0.005). There was a significant decrease in heart rate after diaphragmatic breathing (p 0.005). Time domain parameters including RMSSD, SDNN, PNN50 and frequency domain parameters including absolute LF and HF were significantly increase after diaphragmatic breathing.
Conclusion(s): A single session of diaphragmatic breathing may result in improved heart rate variability by providing parasympathetic modulation. However, it may be inadequate to produce an effect on arterial stiffness.
Implications: Given that chronic respiratory exercises consist of repeated acute bouts, understanding of the acute physiological effects of diaphragmatic breathing will guide the selection of treatment parameters.
Keywords: Diaphragmatic breathing, Arterial stiffness, Autonomic function
Funding acknowledgements: None
Purpose: To evaluate the changes in arterial stiffness and autonomic function after diaphragmatic breathing in healthy individuals.
Methods: Twenty six healthy voluntary individuals (12 female and 14 male) aged between 19 and 25 participated in the study. The first session consisted of informed consent, assessment of pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, and familiarization of the diaphragmatic breathing. The second session was performed consecutive day. Diaphragmatic breathing was maintained for 15 minutes in physiotherapist supervision. Arterial stiffness was assessed with aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV). Hearth rate variability (HRV) was used to measure autonomic function. Time (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals (SDNN), and square root of the mean squared difference of successive normal to normal R-R intervals (RMSSD), the percentage of successive NN intervals with a difference of duration longer than 50 ms (pNN50)) and frequency domain (low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF) evaluations of HRV were obtained from five-minute ECG recording. All parameters, blood pressure, AoPWV, heart rate, SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, absolute LF, absolute HF, and LF/HF were recorded before and after the intervention.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.23 ± 1.23 years and the mean body mass index was 22.71 ± 2.66 kg/m². There was a significant difference in central and brachial systolic blood pressures between interventions (p 0.005). AoPWV was similar between pre- and post-diaphragmatic breathing (p>0.005). There was a significant decrease in heart rate after diaphragmatic breathing (p 0.005). Time domain parameters including RMSSD, SDNN, PNN50 and frequency domain parameters including absolute LF and HF were significantly increase after diaphragmatic breathing.
Conclusion(s): A single session of diaphragmatic breathing may result in improved heart rate variability by providing parasympathetic modulation. However, it may be inadequate to produce an effect on arterial stiffness.
Implications: Given that chronic respiratory exercises consist of repeated acute bouts, understanding of the acute physiological effects of diaphragmatic breathing will guide the selection of treatment parameters.
Keywords: Diaphragmatic breathing, Arterial stiffness, Autonomic function
Funding acknowledgements: None
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Dokuz Eylül University
Ethics committee: Noninvasive Research Ethics Board of Dokuz Eylül University
Ethics number: 2018/14-16
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
