Effect of Breath Holding on Cardiovascular Parameters During Abdominal Exercises

Abdominal exercises have become an integral part of both fitness and rehabilitative purposes. Sit ups or curl ups are the most common abdominal exercises performed by people without proper training and it has been observed that most people hold their breath inadvertently while performing these exercises. To date, research on abdominal exercises has been focused primarily on the EMG and mechanical aspects of exercises. The effect on the cardiovascular parameters as part of the abdominal exercises used in rehabilitation and fitness programmes is largely unknown. Consequently, it is of clinical importance to determine the effects of abdominal exercises like Straight Partial Sit up (SPSU) and Oblique Partial Sit up (OPSU) on cardiovascular parameters with normal breathing and with breath holding.

Objectives: To examine the effects of normal breathing and breath holding during abdominal exercises on parameters such as Blood Pressure(BP), Heart Rate(HR), Mean Blood Pressure(MBP), Rate Pressure Product(RPP) and to compare the magnitude of changes of these effects.

Method: A lot of 60 untrained healthy individuals of mean age 21.93 were taken for this study. The two abdominal exercises i.e. Straight Partial Sit Up and Oblique Partial Sit Up were demonstrated to them and exercise procedure (normal breathing and breath holding) was explained. Supine was taken as the starting position. Basal parameters were taken after 10 minutes of rest in this position. 10 repetitions were given for each set of exercises and parameters were recorded again after each set. A rest period of 10 minutes was kept between the two sit up exercises.

Material: Mercury Sphygmomanometer, Stethoscope, Watch, Plinth and Sheets.

Results: An increase in Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Mean Blood Pressure and RPP was observed during the exercises. Breath holding got significantly increased to p value of 0.001 for all the parameters as mentioned above. Post exercise, all cardiovascular parameters returned to baseline within a few minutes.

Conclusion: While performing abdominal exercises (Straight Partial Sit up and Oblique Partial Sit up) cardiovascular parameters had raised and voluntary breath holding had significantly increased all the parameters.