Author: Mia Larson1, Daniel P Chantigian1, Ninitha Asirvatham-Jeyaraj2,3, Ann Van de Winckel1,3, Manda L Keller-Ross1,3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Division of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
<sup>2</sup> Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
<sup>3</sup> Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Conference/Journal: Front Physiol
Date published: 2020 Oct 30
Other:
Volume ID: 11 , Pages: 573325 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.573325. , Word Count: 252
Purpose: To determine if acute slow breathing at 6 breaths/min would improve baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV), and lower blood pressure (BP) in adults after stroke. Methods: Twelve individuals completed two randomized study visits where they performed a 15-min bout of breathing exercises at 6 breaths/min (slow) and at 12 breaths/min (control). Continuous BP and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout, and BRS, BRS response to elevations in blood pressure (BRSup), BRS response to depressions in blood pressure (BRSdown), and HRV were calculated and analyzed before (pre), during, and after (post) breathing exercises. Results: BRS increased from pre to post slow breathing by 10% (p = 0.012), whereas BRSup increased from pre to during slow breathing by 30% (p = 0.04). BRSdown increased from pre to post breathing for both breathing conditions (p < 0.05). HR (control: Δ - 4 ± 4; slow: Δ - 3 ± 4 beats/min, time, p < 0.01) and systolic BP (control: Δ - 0.5 ± 5; slow: Δ - 6.3 ± 8 mmHg, time, p < 0.01) decreased after both breathing conditions. Total power, low frequency power, and standard deviation of normal inter-beat intervals (SDNN) increased during the 6-breaths/min condition (condition × time, p < 0.001), whereas high frequency increased during both breathing conditions (time effect, p = 0.009). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that in people post-stroke, slow breathing may increase BRS, particularly BRSup, more than a typical breathing space; however, paced breathing at either a slow or typical breathing rate appears to be beneficial for acutely decreasing systolic BP and HR and increasing HRV.
Keywords: autonomic function; baroreflex; heart rate variability; slow breathing; stroke.
PMID: 33192570 PMCID: PMC7662434 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.573325