Immediate Effect of Ice Massage to Head and Spine vs Cooling Pranayamas on Heart Rate Variability in Hypertensives

Aims: To compare the immediate effect of Ice Massage (IM) to head and spine with cooling pranayama (sheetali and sheetkari pranayama) in hypertensive individuals on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability.

Study design: An open-label, randomized, clinical trial.

Methodology: 100 hypertensive subjects were selected and randomly allocated into Group 1(n=50) (cooling pranayama) and Group 2 (n=50) (ice massage to head and spine). Group 1 practiced each pranayama for 10 mins and Group 2 was administered ice massage for 20 minutes. Subjects were assessed for Blood pressure and HRV at baseline and after treatment.

Result: There was a significant decrease in the blood pressure, heart rate, and LF/HF ratio and an increase in the HF power, NN50, and pNN50 values in both the groups after ice massage and cooling pranayama. But there was a larger significance found in group 2 (ice massage to head and spine) blood pressure variables (P≤0.001***), VLF (P =0.002**), LF (P =0.003**).

Conclusion: The study showed that both ice massage to the head, spine and sheetali, sheetkari pranayama appeared to be effective means in the reduction of blood pressure. The immediate effect of ice massage on the head and spine is more effective in comparison to cooling pranayamas in the reduction of blood pressure in hypertensives.