Study Of Nadishodhana, Bhramari Pranayama And Omkar Chanting On Autonomic Functions And Its Reflection On Performance Amongst Preclinical Medical Students.

摘要

Vastness of the medical curriculum poses medical student under stress, mental fatigue and performance deficits. Stress relaxation techniques of yogic exercise might prove beneficial. Nadishodhan Pranayama, Bhramari and Omkar recitation are used to evaluate the effect of these yogic exercises on autonomic functions and performance of future medical professionals. Preclinical Knowledge Score was 14% in cases and 10% in control group. Modulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity thereby improving autonomic functions of body and thereby improved performance output was the outcome of the study. Introduction The integrated teaching and learning methodology where assessment forms important signpost, inclusion of stress relaxation techniques in modern education system is the need of hour1. Vastness of the medical curriculum poses young medical student under stress, mental fatigue and performance deficits2. Nadishodhan Pranayama, Bhramari and Omkar recitation are important yogic practices3. Nadidhodhana Pranayama causes modulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity thereby improving autonomic functions of body4,5. The vibrations produced due to Bhramari, Omkar recitation increases the receptive capacity of individual. The study was intended to evaluate the collective effect of Nadishodhana Pranayma, Bhramari and Omkar chanting on autonomic functions and performance output amongst preclinical medical students Methodology The present study was carried out at in Clinical Physiology laboratory of the Yoga Unit of Chhatttisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, CG. The study was carried out over 40 preclinical medical student after informed consent. Those students who were not practicing yogic exercises were included in the study. The subjects were categorized in two groups, Group I ( n =20) which performed, Nadishodhana, Bhramari Pranayama and Omkar chanting for seven days daily and Group II ( n =20) without this maneuver. Control and cases were matched for age and sex. As all of them joined medical stream after clearing same premedical examination they were matched for their preclinical skills. All the students were assessed for the vital parameters like pulse, blood pressure and for nostril breathing before and after the study. After initial warm up exercise for two minutes Group I performed Nadishodhana Pranayama starting from left nostril for five minutes, Bhramari Pranayama for 10 times followed by low pitched Omkar chanting for 10 times. Omkar chanting was having shorter AU part and longer ‘M’ part. Group II was given only warm up exercise for two minutes. A questionnaire prepared by medical team involving medical educationist was used for the study. All the students were trained for two hours on practical aspects of Packed Cell Volume and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Haematology laboratory of Physiology department. The questionnaire was prepared on same topic. After training they were assessed on the basis of the questionnaire. Assessment was based on no. of attempted questions and correctness of the answer. Observations And Result We observed increased attention span during training in Group I as compared to Group II. The mean pulse rate for Group I was ( Before 78 bpm, after 70 bpm) and for Group II it was ( before 76 bpm, after 80 bpm). The mean blood pressure in Group I was (before110/74 mmHg, after100/72 mmHg and of that of Group II was before (106/72 mmHg, 110/72 mmHg ). We observed left nostril breathing in 40% of the subjects in Group I and 30% in Group II before study. The nostril breathing pattern remained unaltered in both groups after the study. On analysis of the results of questionnaire we observed that 100% of the Group I attempted all questions and 60% of Group II attempted all questions. Correctness of the answer also varied question wise in both the groups. Preclinical Knowledge Score (PKS) was 14% for Group I and 10% for Group II. In Group I there were 20% (n = 2) subjects who scored