Effects of Hatha-Vinyasa Yoga practice on the autonomic regulation and perceived pain of older women living in high southern latitude. A pilot study

The objective of this work was to know the effects of the practice of Hatha-vinyasa yoga, in the autonomic regulation and the perceived pain of elderly women living in high southern latitude. Twenty women (age 66 +/- 7) participated in this study. A group of ten women participated in 24 yoga sessions and a control group remained without any treatment. Heart Rate Variability was evaluated considering values of laRMSSD (natural logarithm of the square of the mean root of RR intervals) and lnSDNN (natural logarithm of the standard deviation of RR intervals), the perception of pain (Catastrophism Scale before Pain; PCS), and blood pressure through MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure) and PP (Pulse Pressure), each being measured in four study times. The results show that the autonomic assessment of lnRMSSD and lnSDNN is increased by the performance of Yoga at t3 and t4, and the perception of pain decreases at t4 when comparing both groups. Interestingly, these effects persist 30 days after the exercise time has ended. In conclusion, the group that practiced Hatha-vinyasa yoga decreased pain perception and improved autonomic regulation compared to the control group, being able to perceive its effect even 30 days after finishing thetreatment.