Slow Yogic-Derived Breathing and Respiration and Cardiovascular Variability in Spinal Cord Injury Patients (SCOGA)

Effect of Slow Breathing and Yogic-Derived Breathing on Respiration and Cardiovascular Variability in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

This research will aid in understanding of slow-breathing and its effect on heart rate and blood pressure in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). This research will investigate if traditional 'yogic' breathing exercises can be performed by subjects with SCI and its influence on the cardiovascular system.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries; Slow Breathing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Slow Breathing

Detailed Description

The relationship between respiratory patterns and cardiovascular variability in healthy persons has been previously studied. However, the impact of SCI on the interrelationships between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems remains relatively unstudied. The loss of autonomic control in SCI may mean that slow breathing has profound effects on cardiovascular variability. Hence, those with SCI may represent a population that could benefit from the potential physiologic effects of numerous yogic-based breathing patterns that can be applied anywhere any time. Hence, it is important to determine if slower breathing patterns can shift the cardiovascular control pattern to-wards important healthful effects. This physiological study will compare the effects of uncontrolled breathing and traditional yogic slow-breathing practices on cardiovascular variability in SCI patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 17
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02138
      • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age: 18-60 years old
2. Wheelchair user
3. Medically stable & able to follow directions
4. Body mass index (18.5 - 35 kg/m2)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. BP >140/90 mmHg
2. Current use of cardioactive medications (except medication to support blood pressure)
3. Current tobacco use
4. Significant arrhythmia
5. Coronary artery disease
6. Diabetes
7. Renal Disease
8. Cancer
9. Epilepsy or other neurological diseases

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Spinal Cord Injured Participants; 17 medically stable male and female subjects between 18 and 60 years old, BMI between 18.5-35 kg/m2, with a SCI and who use a wheelchair were recruited. Participants that did not speak English or with a history of renal, neurological, or coronary artery disease, cancer, diabetes, significant arrhythmia smoking, or using cardioactive medications were excluded.

Behavioral: Slow Breathing; On two separate visits (on Day 1 and between Day 7 and 9 of their self-practice) the subject will be coached on yoga breathing techniques. The breathing techniques will be varied in: frequency (between 0.25 and 0.1 Hz); Inspiratory:Expiratory (I:E) ratio or 'Duty Cycle'; with and without ujjayi (yogic throat restriction); with and without inspiratory/expiratory breath holding At the end of the first coaching visit the subject will be given a diary to record their own practice of the breathing techniques they were coached on.; Other Names: Yogic-Derived Breathing

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HRV	Heart rate variability assessed in the frequency domain during paced or unpaced breathing via Welch's modified periodogram method. Average power calculated by integrating the power spectral density in the low and high frequency bands.	7 minutes of paced or unpaced breathing at single study visit on Day 14
BPV	Systolic blood pressure variability from a Finometer assessed in the frequency domain via Welch's modified periodogram method. Average power calculated by integrating the power spectral density in the low and high frequency bands.	7 minutes of paced or unpaced breathing at single study visit on Day 14
SpO2	Peripheral oxygen saturation during paced or unpaced breathing	7 minutes of paced or unpaced breathing at single study visit on Day 14
Expired Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	Expired CO2 from a nasal cannula	7 minutes of paced or unpaced breathing at single study visit on Day 14

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Mazur MD, Hamner JW, Anand AN, Taylor JA. Cardiorespiratory Effects of Yogic Versus Slow Breathing in Individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury: An Exploratory Cohort Study. J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Sep;30(9):878-885. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0641. Epub 2024 Mar 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 22, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 27, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): July 29, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: spinal cord injury; pranayama; resonance; yogic
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Trauma, Nervous System; Spinal Cord Diseases; Respiratory Insufficiency; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Spinal Cord Injuries; Hypoventilation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022P001696

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No