Observational Study to Find Correlation Between Dhatu Sarata (Tissue Excellence) And Alpha-Fit Fitness Test Battery

Abstract

Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine, designates a unique concept, Dhatu sarata, that categorizes the population into three subgroups Sarva Sara (optimal status of tissue health), Asara (suboptimal quality of tissue health), and Madhya Sara (average level of tissue health) as per health status of the tissue. Ayurved classic believes that the examination of tissue health is one of the best criteria to assess an individual's strength status of an individual irrespective of the person's physique. Acharya Charaka explained the relationship between physical fitness and Dhatu sarata in the eighth chapter of Vimansthan in Charaksamhita. Therefore, validating this association using contemporary parameters and scientific instruments is necessary. The present study aimed to assess physical fitness with a valid parameter and find its association with Dhatu sarata, a subjective parameter. In this era, quantitative data is needed to understand ancient subjective characteristic features. Hence this topic was selected for research. Institutional Ethics Committee permission was obtained, and normal healthy individuals aged 22 to 35 were enrolled in the study. Their Dhatu sarata (tissue excellence) evaluation was done using a standardized, validated questionnaire and software (Ayusoft C-DAC). The reliable, valid, and field-based set of ALPHA-FIT fitness test batteries assessed their health-related physical fitness. Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) was calculated to study the association between Dhatu sarata(tissue excellence) and fitness factors. It was observed that in the study population (n=50), statistical analysis (Pearson’s correlation test) showed a significant positive correlation between the excellence of Mamsa, Asthi, Majja, Shukra, Rasa Dhatu and health-related physical fitness while no significant correlation between health-related physical fitness and excellence of Meda and Rakta Dhatu. Results of the study suggest that excellence of tissue is positively associated with health-related physical fitness.