Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Back ground: Alcoholism is the biggest burden to the health and socioeconomic development of the world. The social welfare system and the criminal justice system, often the first to come into contact with alcohol-related problems, can be sensitized in identifying and assisting individuals and families at risk for heavy drinking and acting as early referral systems. Extensive opportunities exist to lessen alcohol problems through community education and the prevention of drunk driving, domestic violence, public disorder, unintentional injuries and criminal damage. To manage withdrawal symptoms, gait and balance, drugs have been used abundantly. Yoga is an easily available and cost effective tool to manage these symptoms.

Materials and methods: A total of sixty alcoholic dependent individuals has been selected from two different de-addiction camps and were recruited for this study after satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and by using an AUDIT questionnaire for the screening of the subjects. The first group comprised of a yoga intervention and the second remained to be the control. Subjects in both the groups were matched to their age group. Subjects in the yoga group practiced yoga for a period of 10 days. While the control group carried on its routine activities. Both the groups were assessed for balance, gait and withdrawal symptoms at baseline and following 10 days.

Results: The yoga group showed significant improvement in the balance (p<0.006), gait (p<0.029) and vomiting (p<0.001).T test and non-parametric study (Wilkinson’s test) was used to compare with the control group.

Interpretation and conclusion: Ten days of yoga practice has shown to bring a positive influence in alcoholic dependent individuals as signified by reduced vomiting symptom and improved gait and balance. Further studies are warranted to observe the withdrawal symptoms by long term yogic intervention. 

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Abstract

Background & Objectives: Yoga is an ancient Indian science and an art of living. The beneficial effects of yoga are being studied scientifically in recent times. The present study adopts a systematic approach in comparing the effects of practicing yoga for one and two years with novices on autonomic and respiratory variables.

Materials and Methods: Three groups of 30 healthy volunteers each, of both genders, with ages ranging between 18-22 years were recruited. The subjects of group one (G1) had no experience in yoga while the group two (G2) and group three (G3) had one and two years of experience respectively. Subjects were assessed for Heart Rate, HRV, Blood pressure and respiratory rate at baseline, during deep breathing and isometric hand grip test. Their levels of anxiety along with their performance in a task requiring attention were recorded. The data collected were analyzed using tests for normality and one way ANOVA using SPSS version 20.

Results: One way ANOVA comparing the baseline values for Autonomic and respiratory variables showed G2 and G3 had significantly lower respiratory rates than G1 (P<0.001). The blood pressure (both Systolic and Diastolic) were significantly lower in G2 (P<0.001, for both comparisons) and G3 (P<0.001, for both comparisons) compared to G1. Also, the heart rate was significantly lower in G3 (P<0.05) compared both G1 and G2.

Following Isometric Hand grip test there was a significant increase in the heart rate and blood pressure in G1 and G2 (p<.01). Similarly, following deep breathing test, there was a significant reduction in heart rate in all three groups (p<.05, for all comparisons). 

Digit letter substitution task: There was no significant difference across three groups for the net scores recorded following the substitution task (p>.05, one way ANOVA).

Conclusion: Practicing Yoga for longer duration has shown to influence autonomic functions positively and induce regulated physiological rest.

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