Can yoga show better vascular outcomes than regular exercise among office workers: a scoping review

Abstract

Background: Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) in the elderly is mostly brought on by arterial stiffness with ageing, which results in a lack of vascular compliance. The main cardiovascular (CV) hazards for elderly persons are arterial ageing and high blood pressure (BP). The aim of this study was to investigate if endothelial function in young, middle-aged, and older, healthy persons would be improved by Bikram yoga, a heated form of hatha yoga. Methods: Randomised control trials on yoga, vascular function, exercise, and office employees were used in the study, which was done in four databases (Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, and Science Direct). Results:  3 of 103 articles were included. We identified improvement of vascular function, FMD and arterial stiffness using yoga intervention. While exercise does not significantly affect ventricular function, yoga significantly reduces heart rate (p = 0.031) and increases pulse pressure (PD). Yoga also results in a mean increase in left ventricular ejection time (LVET), which was observed in the yoga group. The improvement in myocardial function was more pronounced in the yoga group than in the exercise group, according to the between-group analysis, which revealed a significant difference in post-intervention rate-pressure product (RPP) between the yoga and exercise groups. With a P value of 0.004, the mean% Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) was significantly lower, demonstrating that yoga was effective in lowering MAP. However, older adults, but not younger ones, experienced a significant increase in brachial artery FMD (Flow Mediated Dilation) following the intervention. Conclusions:  Yoga interventions may improve vascular function, arterial stiffness, flow-mediated dilation, heart rate, RRP and MAP, with older adults experiencing a significant increase in brachial artery FMD, suggesting the effectiveness of yoga in improving myocardial function and lowering MAP, particularly in older adults.