ArticlePDF Available

The Effects of Gravity Inversion Procedures on Systemic Blood Pressure: Intra-ocular Pressure, and Central Retinal Arterial Pressure.

Authors:
  • Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Abstract

Gravity Inversion Boots (a device which clasps around the ankle joint and hooks onto a stationary horizontal bar allowing one to hang stationary in an inverted, head down position) is a popular method for traction and exercise now being used by an estimated one million people. Recent reports in the medical literature suggests that this device may be contraindicated in patients with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and ocular problems. In an effort to document physiologic changes which occur in the inverted position, twenty healthy medical students were subjected to a 3-minute inactive period of inversion. Systemic blood pressure, pulse rates, central retinal arterial pressure, and intraocular pressures were measured and found to be significantly elevated in all subjects. We speculate that this device may be contraindicated in certain patient populations, specifically hypertensives. Caution is advised in relation to people with spinal instability, suspected abnormalities in hemostasis, or with intraocular hypertension.
The
effects
of
gravity
inversion
procedures
on
systemic
blood
pressure,
intraocular
pressure,
and
central
retinal
arterial
pressure
RONALD
M.
KLATZ,
D.O.
ROBERT
M.
GOLDMAN,
B.S.
BURTON G. PINCHUK, o.D.
KENNETH
E. NELSON,
D.O.
ROBERTS. TARR,
PH
.D.
Chicago, Illinois
Gravity
Inversion
Boots
(a
device
which
clasps
around
the
ankle
joint
and
hooks
onto
a
stationary
horizontal
bar
allowing
one
to
hang
stationary
in
an
inverted,
head
down
position)
is
a
popular
method
for
traction
and
exercise
now
being
used
by
an
estimated
one
million
people.
Recent
reports
in
the
medical
literature
suggest
that
this
device
may
be
contraindicated
in
patients
with
hypertension,
cardiovascular
disease,
and
ocular
problems.
In
an
effort
to
document
physiologic
changes
which
occur
in
the
inverted
position,
twenty
healthy
medical
students
were
subjected
to
a
3-minute
inactive
period
of
inversion.
Systemic
blood
pressure,
pulse
rates,
central
retinal
arterial
pressure,
and
intraocular
pressures
were
measured
and
found
to
be
significantly
elevated
in
all
subjects.
We
speculate
that
this
device
may
be
contraindicated
in
certain
patient
populations,
specifically
hypertensives.
Caution
is
advised
in
relation
to
people
with
spinal
instability,
suspected
abnormalities
in
hemostasis,
or
with
intraocular
hypertension.
Gravity
inversion
boots
are
devices
that
clasp
around
the
ankle
joint
and
permit
an
individual
to
hang
from a
stationary
horizontal
bar
in
a totally
inverted
(
-90
°
head
down)
position.
Inversion
boots were first designed by Martin,
1
a California
Effects of gravity inversion procedures
orthopedic surgeon,
as
a traction device to relieve
interspinal
disk
pressures
.
The
boots
allow
the
participant
to
utilize
gravity
and
one
's
body
weight to decompress
the
spine. Since
their
devel-
opment
in
the
late
1960s,
gravity
inversion boots
have
enjoyed widespread use, including
many
un-
likely applications such
as
weight lifting while
in
the
inverted
position.
1·4
The
manufacturers
have
attempted
to
inform
potential
purchasers
about
the
contraindications
to
gravity
inversion therapy: uncompensated con-
gestive
heart
failure, uncontrolled hypertension,
carotid
artery
stenosis,
and
hiatal
hernia.
6
There
have been reports of individuals suffering perior-
bital
petechiae,
5
headaches,
and
sensations
of
head
pressure.
6
A review of
the
medical
and
aerospace
literature
yielded
little
information on
the
effects of
total
in-
version. According to estimates from
the
various
manufacturers'
data,
as
many
as
one
million
Americans
may
be
engaging
in
this
activity.
Therefore, we
thought
it
important
to study
the
ef-
fects of inversion on systemic blood pressure, pulse
rate,
central
retinal
arterial
pressure,
and
intra-
ocular pressure.
Materials
and
methods
Eighteen
male
and
two female subjects,
ranging
in
age from 22 to 33 years, were chosen from
the
stu-
dent
body of
the
Chicago College of
Osteopathic
Medicine. The volunteers
had
no medical history
of hypertension or glaucoma.
The subjects were seated
and
resting blood pres-
sure
, pulse
rate,
central
retinal
arterial
pressure,
and
intraocular
pressure were measured. The sub-
jects
were
then
inverted
for a
3-minute-period.
During
the
inversion period, systemic blood pres-
sure
was
measured
at
45 seconds
and
at
3 minutes;
pulse
rate
was
measured
at
1 minute;
and
central
retinal
arterial
pressure
and
intraocular pressure
were
both
measured
at
3
minutes.
The
subjects
853
/111
were
then
returned
to
the
seated position. All four
parameters
were
remeasured
within
1
minute
after
the
subject was
returned
to
the
upright
pos-
ture,
with
the
subject seated.
Pulse
rates
were
taken
from
the
radial
pulse of
the
right
wrist
. A
Propper
sphygmomanometer
and
a
Litmann
cardiology
stethoscope
were
em-
ployed
to
measure
blood
pressure
with
the
right
arm
supported
laterally
at
the
heart
level
for
all
measurements
(Fig. 1).
Intraocular
pressure
was
measured
utilizing a MacKay-Marg
Model12
ap-
planation tonometer (Fig.
2).
Ophthalmodynamom-
etry
was used to
measure
central
retinal
arterial
pressure.
7
In
this
technique,
the
instrument
probe
of
the
tonometer
was
placed
on
the
sclera
of
the
anesthetized
eye (1-2 drops 0.5
percent
propara-
caine
HCl)
just
adjacent
to
the
limbus
.
The
arte-
ries were visualized
using
a direct ophthalmoscope
at
the
optic
disc.
At
first
pulsation
of
the
arte-
ries
,
the
pressure
was
recorded.
The
pressure
on
the
globe was
then
continually increased
until
pul-
sation
ceased. The first
pulsation
was recorded
as
the
diastolic
pressure;
the
latter
as
the
systolic
pressure.
854/112
Fig.
1.
Blood pressure values
of
subjects were recorded
at
45 seconds
and
3 minutes while in the inverted position.
Fig. 2.
Intraocular
and
central retinal artery pressures were recorded with the MacKay-Marg
applanation tonometer
at
3 minutes while in the inverted position.
Means
and
standard
errors were calculated for
the
following parameters: systemic systolic blood
pressure, systemic diastolic blood pressure, pulse
rate,
central
retinal
systolic
arterial
pressure, cen-
tral
retin
'
al
diastolic
arterial
pressure,
and
intra-
ocular pressure.
The
primary
method of
statistical
analysis
was
an
overall
analysis
of
variance
for
each of these
parameters
.
To
determine
the
signifi-
cant
sources of variation, analysis of variance was
used
again
to
make
multiple comparisons between
adjacent
time
intervals.
8
Results
Systemic blood pressure
and
pulse rate
Both systolic
and
diastolic pressures increased on
inversion,
remained
relatively constant
during
in-
version,
and
returned
to
normal
on
resuming
an
upright
posture. Table 1
and
Figure
3 show blood
pressure
levels before,
during,
and
following in-
version.
Analysis
of
variance
indicates
that
the
rise observed when subjects were inverted
and
the
drop observed when normal posture was resumed
were
highly
significant
(p<.001).
During
the
in-
version period
the
blood pressures fell slightly,
but
July
1983/
Journal
of AONvol. 82/no.
11
only
the
change
in
systolic
pressure
was
signifi-
cant
(p
<.05).
Pulse
rate
prior
to
inversion
was
67
±
1.44.
After 1
minute
of inversion,
the
average
rate
was
78
±
1.09
(p
<.001). One
minute
after
resuming
an
upright
posture,
the
pulse
rate
was
still
signifi-
cantly
elevated
(75
±
1.71) above
pre-inversion
levels.
Central retinal arterial pressure
and
intraocular pressure
Systolic
central
retinal
pressure, diastolic
central
retinal
pressure,
and
intraocular
pressure
all
in-
creased
(p
<.001) on inversion
and
returned
to nor-
mal
on
resuming
an
upright
posture
. Table 2
and
Figures
4
and
5 show
these
pressures
before, dur-
ing,
and
following
inversion.
The
central
retinal
systolic
and
diastolic blood
pressures
and
the
in-
traocular
pressure were
all
significantly elevated
during
inversion. No significant differences were
found
between
pre-inversion
and
post-inversion
values.
Central
retinal
arterial
pressures
had
a
tendency to
remain
slightly elevated
in
the
post-
inversion period,
but
this
was
not
statistically
sig-
nificant.
Discussion
The
results
of
our
study
indicated
a
rise
in
blood
pressure,
pulse
rates,
retinal
arterial
pressures,
and
intraocular
pressures
despite
the
subject's
lack of physical activity while
in
the
inverted posi-
tion.
The effects of
gravity
on
the
physiology of hemo-
dynamics
are
such
that
distensible
blood vessels
experience
variable
responses
in
pressure
and
flow.
For
example,
if
a 5-foot 7-inch
tall
subject
in
the
standing
position
had
a
mean
arterial
blood
pressure
(MAP)
at
the
level of
the
heart
of
100 mm.
Hg,
then
the
MAP
at
the
level of
the
feet (130 em.
below
the
level of
the
heart)
would be (100 + 95)
=
195
mm
.
Hg
(each em.
of
blood
exerts
a
pressure
equivalent
to .735 mm. Hg). Conversely,
the
MAP
in
the
cerebral
artery
(located
approximately
46
em. above
the
level of
the
heart)
would be (100 -
34)
=
66
mm.
Hg.
Because
of
this
effect,
it
has
been
estimated
that
when
an
individual
shifts
from
the
supine to
the
standing
position, approxi-
mately
500 ml.
ofbl~od
are
pooled
in
the
legs. This
can
result
in
a decreased cardiac
output
of 2 liters/
minute
and
a 40
percent
reduction
in
stroke
vol-
ume.9
It
is reasonable to speculate
that
in
the
inverted
position
the
right
atria
of
the
heart
would receive
at
least
an
extra
500 ml. of venous blood which, ac-
cording to
Starling's
Law, would increase cardiac
output
and
also
raise
systemic
blood
pressure.
It
should be noted, however,
that
emotional
and
psy-
chologic factors could
have
contributed to
the
ob-
served
increases
in
systemic
blood
pressure.
In
fact,
the
increase
in
pulse
rate
suggests a
neural
component to
the
rise
in
blood pressure.
In
a
study
of six
human
subjects placed
in
a
-20°
head
down
position for 3 hours,
Katkov
and
associates
10
found
changes
in
ventricular
systolic
pressure
consistent
with
increased
headward
blood shifts. These find-
ings include elevated
right
ventricular
pressures
and
decreased
left
ventricular
pressures.
In
his
study,
Katkov
found
increased
pulse
rate
and
gradually
decreasing systolic
and
diastolic blood
pressure values.
10
This
last
finding
was
inconsis-
160
120
iii
80
.,
~
J::
E
.s
~
~
£
40
8
iii
Pre-
inv
ers
io
n
BLOOD
PRESSURE
MEASUREMENTS
DURING
INVE
RSION
1
0
DIASTOLIC
Inve
rsion
Per
iod
M
easured
m Minutes
1
4
Pos
t-
inwrsion
*
Siqnificonfly di
ff
er
ent
(p<
.OOI) fr
om
both
pre
-inver
sion
an
d
pos
t
-inve
r
sion
.
No d
iff
erences were found between pre- and post
-i
nversi
oo
values.
Fig
. 3.
Graph depicting blood pressure variation with change in
posture.
TABLE
1.
SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC SYSTEMIC BLOOD PRESSURE BEFORE, DURING, AND FOLLOWING INVERSION. VALUES SHOWN ARE MEAN
AND STANDARD ERROR FOR 20
SUBJE
CTS.
Pre-inversion
Inversion
Inverted
Post-inversion
seated
45 sec.
3min.
seated
Systolic blood
pressures
(
mm.
Hg
)
119
±
2.63 157
±
4.22* 148
±
3.70* 123
±
2.64
Diastolic blood
pressures
(
mm.
Hg
)
74
±
1.81 93
±
1.93* 90
±
2.11* 75
±
1.99
*Significantly different (p<
.OOl
)
from both
pre-inversion and
pos
t-inversion.
No
differences
wer
e
found
between
pre-
and post-inversion values.
Effects of gravity inversion procedures 855/113
160
120
~.
"'
r
E
eo
5
~
~
~
"0
0
0
iii
40
P\'e-inversion Inve rsion
Period
Measures in Mi nutes
4
Fbst
-
inversion
Significantly hi<jler than
prei
n
~on
le...els
{p<.OOI).
No
signi
ficant
chaocJes
we
re f
ou
nd
be
t
wee
n
pre-
and
post
-i
nversion.
35
30
"'
25
en
"'
:r
E
.
,
.t
20
0
Pl'e
-inve
rs
ion
I
NTRAOCULAR
2
In
version Per
io
d
Measured in Minutes
4
Post-
inversion
Significantly higher than preinversion levels
(p<
.
OOI)
. No significant changes
were
found
between
pre-
and
post-
inve
r
sio
n.
Fig. 4.
Graph depicting the central retinal artery pressure variation with change in p
os
ture.
Fig. 5.
Graph dep
ic
ting elevation
in
intra-
ocular pressure with positional chang
es.
TABLE
2.
CENTRAL RETINAL SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC PRESSURE AND INTRAOCULAR PRE SSURES
BEF
ORE, DURING AND FOLLOWING INVER-
SION. VAL
UE
S
SH
OWN ARE MEAN AND STANDARD ERROR
FO
R 20 SU
BJE
CTS.
Pr
e-inv
er
sion
Inverted
Post-inversion
s
eat
ed 3
min
.
seated
Systolic
central
retinal
pressure
(
mm
.
H
g)
45 ± 7.
21
105 ± 8.50* 51 ± 8.37
Diastolic
central
retinal
pressure
(
mm
.
Hg
) 26 ± 4.53 62 ± 7.1
8*
32 ± 5.46
Intraocular
pressure
(
mm
.
Hg
) 19 ± 0.57 35 ±
1.
26*
19"
± 0.95
*Significantly higher than pre-inversion le
vel
s (p<.
OOl
).
No
signi
fi
cant changes
we
re
fo
und
between pre-and
post-i
n
ve
r
sio
n.
tent
with
our
study,
and
although
Katkov
's
sub-
jects
were
only
-20
°
inverted
, we feel
that
add
i-
tional
studies
w1th longer inversion
times
would
be useful
in
resolving
whether
adaptation
occurs
at
-90
°
inversion.
Thornburg
and
Lapidies,
11
in
their
study
of ure-
teral
peristalsis
in
eleve~
men
placed
in
a
totally
inverted
position (
-90
°)
for 25-35
minutes
, report-
ed
elevated
systolic
and
diastolic pressures
in
all
subjects.
Pulse
values
in
this
study were found to
be
elevated
in
five
of
their
subjects,
and
decreased
in
the
other
six.
We
speculate
that
cerebral
artery
pressures
,
which
normally
are
lower
than
mean
arterial
pres-
sure
, would be
elevated
above MAP
in
the
inverted
position,
and
this
increase, coupled
with
the
aver-
age
increase
in
systolic (30 mm.
Hg
)
and
diastolic
(20
mm
.
Hg
)
pressures
seen
in
thi
s
study
, could
raise
cerebral
artery
pressures
to
unexpectedly
high
levels.
Thus
,
it
seems possible
that
hyperten-
sive
patients
might
experience a potentially
dan
-
856
/114
gerous
hypertensive
episode while inverted.
The observed increases
in
central
retinal
arteri
-
al
pressure
on inversion
are
likely
related
to
an
in-
crease
in
blood volume
in
the
head
and
neck
and
to
the
correlated
decrease
in
venous
return
from
those
regions.
The
increases
in
intraocular
pres-
sure
presumably
occurred
as
a
result
of
an
in-
creased resistance
to
aqueous outflow from
an
ele-
vation of episcleral venous pressure
similar
to
that
which occurs
when
a person changes from
the
sit-
ting
to
the
supine position.
12
13
It
is commonly accepted
that
in
some
patients
an
increase
in
intraocular
pressure
can occur
in
the
absence of
other
changes which
are
seen
in
severe
glaucoma, such
as
visual field loss
and
optic nerve
atrophy. These
patients
may
be considered to
have
intraocular
hypertension.
In
our
experiments
the
large elevation
in
intraocular
pressure which
oc-
curred
with
inversion
could be considered to be
equivalent
to
intraocular
hypertension
and
may
put
some
patients
with
impaired aqueous outflow
July 1983/J ournal of
AOA/vol. 82/no.
11
at
a
greater
risk
of developing
visual
field loss
and
optic
nerve
atrophy
.
It
should be
noted
that
our
subjects
were
invert-
ed for only 3
minutes,
but
many
individuals
par-
ticipating
in
this
"fad"
hang
for 10-20
minute
per-
iods,
with
some exercising
and
lifting
weights
in
the
inverted
position.
Conclusion
Because of
the
significant
elevations
in
systemic
and
central
retinal
arterial
blood
pressures
, pulse
rate
,
and
intraocular
pressure
reported
in
these
experiments,
it
is
our
recommendation
that
cau-
tion
should be observed
in
the
prescription
of
the
use of inversion boots. Clearly,
there
is cause for
concern
in
those
individuals
with
a
history
of
hy
-
pertension,
cardiovascular
disease,
and
stroke.
We feel
that
further
stl.).dy
is
necessary
to evalu-
ate
the
risk
of
patients
with
spinal
fusions of
un-
certain
stability,
weak
spinal
ligaments/
4
reflux
esophagitis, or
patients
on
aspirin
or
platelet
in-
hibitors. A
general
caution
must
be
urged
for
the
elderly who
are
already
a
high
risk
population for
cerebrovascular accident.
Finally
,
it
would be
pru-
dent
to
have
intraocular
pressures
and
visual
fields
checked
before
embarking
on
an
inversion
program.
Appreciation is expressed
to
Thomas W. Allen, D.O.,
FA
-
COl, Richard Bell,
Ph
.D., Carol Claycomb, D.O
.,
Arthur
W.
Hafner,
Ph
.
D.
,
Alison
K.
Hubbard, M.A., Robert E.
Kappler
, D.O
.,
FAAO,
Albert
F . Kelso,
Ph.D.,
Amor
Lowsitisukdi
, Marc Mayer, D.O. , Daniel Richardson,
Ph
.D.,
and
Kenneth
A.
Suarez, Ph.D., Chicago College
of
Osteopathic Medicine, for their assistance.
Effects
of
gravity
inversion procedures
1.
Martin
, R.M.:
The
gravity
guiding
system.
Gravity
Guidance
Inc.,
Pasadena
, Calif., 1982
2. Klein, F. C.: On sports. Wall
Street
J
ourna
l,
p.
28,
21
Oct 82
3. Ade lson, S.: Robert
Martin's
boots were made for
hanging-and
for
overturning
back pain. People 18:125-6, Oct 82
4.
Hang
ten. Flipping over
gravity
boots. Time,
p.
61 , 2 May 83
5.
Plocher, D.W.:
Inv
ersion petechiae. N Eng! J Med 307:1406-7,25 Nov
82
6. Back speciali
sts
hit
"inversion" fad. Medical World News, pp. 49-50,
28
Mar83
7.
Chusid, J .
G.:
Correl
ativ
e
neuroanatomy
and
functional neurology.
Ed. 15.
Lange
Medical Publications, Los Altos, Calif., 1973
8. Keppel, G.: Design
and
analysis. A
researcher
's h
an
dbook. Prentice-
Hall, Inc. , Englewood Cliffs,
N.J
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Dr.
Klatz
is
an
instructor
in
the
Department
of
Osteopathic
Medicine
at
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago.
Mr
.
Goldman
is
a fellow
in
the
Department
of
Osteopathic
Medicine
at
CCOM.
Dr
.
Pinchuk
is a
staff
member
in
the
De-
partm
e
nt
of Ophthalmology
at
CCOM. Dr. Nelson is
an
assis-
tant
professor
in
the
Department
of
Osteopathic
Medicine
at
CCOM.
Dr
.
Tarr
is a professor
in
the
Department
of
Physiology
atCCOM.
Dr
.
Klatz
,
Chicago
College
of
Osteopathic
Medicine
,
5200
South
Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615.
857/115
... Therefore, various studies focusing on cerebral circulation and intracranial pressure have been carried out in recent years in order to gain a better understanding of these important health issues in the field of space medicine [17,18]. Related studies have explored the effects on the eye and cardiovascular system during inversion [19,20], but the results have been contradictory. In one study, there was a correlation between increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and intraocular pressure during inversion [20], while other studies found no clinically significant changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics in healthy populations [19,21]. ...
... Related studies have explored the effects on the eye and cardiovascular system during inversion [19,20], but the results have been contradictory. In one study, there was a correlation between increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and intraocular pressure during inversion [20], while other studies found no clinically significant changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics in healthy populations [19,21]. ...
... In the current study, we also wanted to determine whether there were changes in HR and MAP during inversion lithecbole in PDLS. Previous studies have shown conflicting results [19][20][21]. Neilsen et al. [38] found that inverted body position is associated with cardiovascular risk, they investigated the effect of inverted body position on the cardiovascular function of subjects during steep HDT by exposing 26 healthy subjects with a median age of 26 years (19-56 years) to 70° and 90° HDT in a randomized order and keeping them there for 5 min, they showed that the mean MAP values were elevated during 70° and 90° HDT and no significant change in HR. Therefore, clinicians should be cautious when using inversion in patients with uncontrolled hypertension or stroke [38]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose To investigate the effect of the postural drainage lithotripsy system developed by our experimental team on the vital signs of patient with urinary stones during the stone removal process. Methods Four groups of 15 subjects (0°, 10°, 40°, and 70°) were subjected to different angles of head-down tilt to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv), cerebrovascular conductance coefficient (CVCi), intracranial pressure (nICP), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Results As the angle of HDT changed, MCAv values, nICP values, CVCi values, HR values, and MAP values changed significantly (all P ≤ 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. During 10°HDT, despite a slight increase in nICP, the other measurements remained stable. During 40°HDT, only the MCAv values did not change significantly, whereas the rest of the measures were significantly altered. During 70°HDT, all indicators changed significantly. Conclusions The significant alterations in cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, and hemodynamics induced during the treatment of renal residual fragments with postural drainage should be used with caution in individuals with cerebrovascular accidents. China Clinical Trials Registry ChiCTR2300070671; Registration date: 2023-04-18.
... Our findings also agree with those of Benson (1985), which focused on the fact that meditation has many benefits, the most important of which are a decrease in the pulse rate, an increase in the percentage of oxygen in the blood, a decrease in blood pressure, the body's resistance to electric current, and other benefits. Note that meditation is a major and essential part of the elements of Muslim prayer, and the results of this study agree with the study of LeMarr et al. (1983), which found that there was a decrease in systolic blood pressure during the first three minutes of prostration, and they agree with the results of Klatz et al. (1983) and Ballantyne (1986), which all showed that there was a decrease in systolic blood pressure during the kneeling or prostrating position. These results can be explained by the fact that psychological factors directly affect the functions of the circulatory system and affect the body in general. ...
Article
Full-text available
A Muslim usually prays 5 times a day, is obligatory for every Muslim. Prayer includes many movements and postures, and measure of reverence in Muslim prayer (MRMP) is an essential part of accepting this practice. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of MRMP on some cardiovascular responses (CRs). The study sample consisted of 74 students (36 = males, 38= females) with ages ranging from 18 to 20 years (M = 19.44, SD = 0.74). The participants were from Jadara University (Jordan) and were selected according to the degree of their responses to both sides of MRMP. They were divided into two groups: a high MRMP group (N = 37), who obtained the highest scores on the MRMP scale, and a low MRMP group (N= 37), who had the lowest scores on MRMP. The high MRMP group was trained on the items of MRMP and reminded of them, while the low MRMP group did not receive any kind of training. The results showed that there was a decrease in the after measurements of pulse (F = 12.326, p = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (F = 30.331, p = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (F = 18.375, p = 0.001), while the results did not show an effect on the oxygen level. The results did not show an effect of sex, nor an interaction between group and sex. The results of this study supported the importance of MRMP and its positive impact on the health of the body, the circulatory system, and heart health as a result of mental health.
... IOP increases on assuming a body position other than seated or upright. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] A small variation can be detected when moving from the sitting to the recumbent position. [7][8][9][10] The increase in IOP is directly related to the inclination of the body toward the completely inverted position. ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: To measure changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in association with yoga exercises with a head-down position. Methods: The single Center, prospective, observational study included 10 subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma and 10 normal individuals, who performed the yoga exercises of Adho Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Halasana and Viparita Karani for two minutes each. IOP was measured by pneumatonometry at baseline and during and after the exercises. Results: All yoga poses were associated with a significant (P<0.01) rise in IOP within one minute after assuming the yoga position. The highest IOP increase (P<0.01) was measured in the Adho Mukha Svanasana position (IOP increase from 17±3.2 mmHg to 28±3.8 mmHg in glaucoma patients; from 17±2.8 mmHg to 29±3.9 mmHg in normal individuals), followed by the Uttanasana position (17±3.9 mmHg to 27±3.4 mmHg (glaucoma patients) and from 18±2.5 mmHg to 26±3.6 mmHg normal individuals)), the Halasana position (18±2.8 mmHg to 24±3.5 mmHg (glaucoma patients); 18±2.7 mmHg to 22±3.4 mmHg (normal individuals)), and finally the Viparita Kirani position (17±4 mmHg to 21±3.6 mmHg (glaucoma patients); 17±2.8 to 21±2.4 mmHg (normal individuals)). IOP dropped back to baseline values within two minutes after returning to a sitting position. Overall, IOP rise was not significantly different between glaucoma and normal subjects (P = 0.813), all though glaucoma eyes tended to have measurements 2 mm Hg higher on average. Conclusions: Yoga exercises with head-down positions were associated with a rapid rise in IOP in glaucoma and healthy eyes. IOP returned to baseline values within 2 minutes. Future studies are warranted addressing whether yoga exercise associated IOP changes are associated with similar changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure and whether they increase the risk of glaucoma progression. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01915680.
... Few studies have documented the physiological changes associated with it. Studies have shown an increase in IOP when normal volunteers were transferred from a sitting to an inverted position 1 . There have been other reports of increased IOP associated with the dependent posture 2,3,4,5 . ...
Article
BACKGROUND: Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) can be altered by changing body position. Very few studies are available in the Indian subjects. AIM: To study the effect of changes in the body position from upright posture to supine to head down tilt of - 60 0 . MATERIALS AND M ETHODS: The study group consisted of 60 subjects, 35 boys and 25 girls in the age group of 18 to 24 years, with no ocular pathology were chosen. Independent measurements of the IOP of each eye were obtained. Keelar Pulsair air impulse tonometer was used in all the subjects for IOP measurement. IOP was measured in the department of Ophthalmology, Teaching Hospital between 10AM to 12 Noon. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS : were done using Student’s paired ‘t’ test. RESULTS: The change of IOP (Increased) induced by the change of position between the means of IOP’s for the sitting and supine positions was 2.789±1.03 mm Hg of all subjects, 2.825±0.226 mm Hg in males and 2.739±0.089 mm Hg in females and between the supine and in clined - 60 ⁰ position was 4.971±0.914 mm Hg of all subjects, 4.703±0.816mm Hg in males and 5.346±1.098 mm Hg in females. CONCLUSION: It is apparent that, the IOP is significantly higher in the supine than in the sitting and in the inclined than in the supin e positions. The difference was statistically significant (P
...  La tracción eleva la presión sanguínea (Klatz, Goldman, Pinchuk, Nelson y Tarr, 1983).  Puede existir el riesgo de afectar la circulación intracraneal y puede llegar a romperse los capilares del ojo (Ploucher, 1982). ...
Article
Full-text available
1. Introducción 2. Importancia de los estiramientos en el deporte 3. Razón del estiramiento 4. Factores que mejoran o limitan los estiramientos 5. Principios metodológicos en los estiramientos 6. Clasificación tradicional de los estiramientos 7. Clasificación adicional de los estiramientos 8. Facilitación neuromuscular propioceptiva (FNP) 9. Manipulación 10. Tracción 11. Flexibilización, fortalecimiento y coordinación 12. Estiramientos con el fin de calentamiento 13. Estiramientos para después de una competición 14. Estiramientos y condición física general 15. Los estiramientos en un programa a largo plazo 16. Resumen de los estiramientos 17. Referencias bibliográficas 2 1. INTRODUCCIÓN Los estiramientos, enmarcados en el concepto de flexibilidad, han sido siempre un caballo de batalla en el campo escolar. Su aplicación, en la asignatu-ra de Educación Física, siempre ha sido, es y posiblemente será obligatoria, pues éstos son imprescindibles y previos para realizar cualquier tipo de actividad física. Por ello, su trabajo tanto teórico como práctico es uno de los más impor-tantes en el desarrollo de los contenidos que componen el marco de la Educa-ción Física, y que repercuten tanto a corto como a largo plazo en la salud. En esta modesta aproximación al estudio de los estiramientos establece-mos tres partes: una primera donde se detalla una serie de principios y razona-mientos metodológicos necesarios para el conocimiento de los estiramientos, en una segunda parte se describen unas clasificaciones de estiramientos y por últi-mo en la tercera parte se detallan algunos aspectos metodológicos de los esti-ramientos en la sesión de ejercicio físico.
... 714 Inverted posture raised the intraocular pressure from a pre-inversion average of 19 mm Hg to an average of 35 mm Hg after inversion for 3 minutes; this returned to normal within one minute after seated posture was resumed. 715 Glaucomatous patients experience a higher rise in pressure to 37.6mm Hg ± 5.0 after inversion for only 30 seconds. The inverted posture probably raises intraocular pressure by increasing episcleral venous pressure which is closely related to increased venous pressure in the orbit. ...
Article
Context: Inversion tables are used as treatment for back pain, but there is a lack of agreement on systemic effects of inversion. Objective: To assess intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral blood flow using ultrasonography during inversion table tilt. Methods: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), heart rate (HR), blood pressure, internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow of participants were measured in 3 positions: supine before inversion, during inversion with head down, and supine post-inversion. ONSD was evaluated with ocular ultrasonography and blood flow (ICA and MCA) with Doppler ultrasonography. Results: The ONSD changed significantly between the supine position, at 3 min of inversion, and after returning to supine position (all P < .001). The post-inversion HR was less than pre-inversion (P = .03) and 3-min inversion HR (P = .003). There were significant changes in ICA and MCA flow caused by inversion, which affected blood flow velocity, resistance, and pulsatility index (all P ≤ .005). Conclusion: Inversion caused significant changes in ICP and blood flow. Thus, increased chance of complications may exist when using inversion as a therapeutic tool or during surgical procedures in patients with previous history of elevated ICP. These results demonstrate that inversion therapy should be used with caution.
Article
Twenty-three Optometry students with normal corneal condition were recruited. The intraocular pressure and central corneal curvature of the right eye were measured in a sitting and a 30 ° head-down posture. The mean (standard deviation) IOPs before and during posture change were 15.6 (2.4) mmHg and 22.1 (2.3) mmHg respectively. This 6.5 mmHg mean rise in IOP was found to be statistically significant which is similar to the results from previous studies. The mean changes in radius of corneal curvature and the orientation of the axis of the vertical principal meridian were 0.02 mm (SD 0.025 mm) and 2.4 ° (SD 10.4 °) respectively. No significant variation was demonstrated on these keratometric results due to the 30 ° head-down posture. The maximum change in radius of curvature was only 0.055 mm for one subject. Perhaps this amount of pressure rise was not sufficient enough to distort the corneal surface centrally. Another possibility could be an even distribution of the elevated pressure around the cornea, or the distribution of pressure is not even but could not be revealed by a conventional keratometer.
Article
We measured the central corneal thickness and the applanation intraocular pressure (IOP) on 45 Hong Kong Chinese. There was no obvious relationship between these two parameters, as different from other literatures. It could be due to either a limited number of subjects with a high IOP level (only six subjects with IOP ⪰ 22 mmHg), or Chinese has a thicker central cornea in general. The mean central cornea of our subjects was thicker (566 ± 36 μm) than some previous findings. Thirty subjects had their intraocular pressure further increased by adopting a 40 ° head-down posture. Their IOP and topographic corneal thickness were measured again. There was no significant change in the central corneal thickness even though the IOP was elevated by 11.7 mmHg. However the nasal cornea demonstrated a thinning effect (by some 18 μm) during the IOP elevation but it returned to the pre-inverted level after returning to a sitting posture for 5 min. Further investigation with more corneal regions being measured would be valuable to evaluate the in vivo effect of IOP elevation from glaucoma attack on corneal thickness.
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