ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Torabi   M. (1 )
Moharamzadeh   S. (*)
Ebrahim   Kh. (2)






(*) Sport Physiology Department, Sport Science Faculty, Shahid Rajaii Teacher Teaching University, Tehran, Iran
(1 ) Sport Physiology Department, Sport Science Faculty, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
(2) Sport Physiology Department, Sport Science Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Sport Physiology Department, Sport Science Faculty, Shahid Rajaii Teacher Teaching University, Shabanlou Street, Lavizan, Tehran, Iran. Postal Code: 1678815811
Phone: +98 (21) 26329095
Fax: +98 (21) 26329095
s.moharamzadeh@srttu.edu

Article History

Received:  February  12, 2016
Accepted:  November 14, 2016
ePublished:  March 25, 2017

BRIEF TEXT


… [1, 2]. The use of lavender can affect the cardiovascular function along with exercise as a disturbing factor in the balance of cardiovascular system … [3-10]. Previous studies Shamsikhani et al. showed that the use of lavender improves sleep quality in individuals [11]. Also, the combination of lavender and imipramine have a better therapeutic effect on mild to moderate depression [12]. This plant relieves pain [13]; it is soothing [9], and has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system [14].

Shamsikhani et al. showed that the use of lavender improves sleep quality in individuals [11]. Also, the combination of lavender and imipramine have a better therapeutic effect on mild to moderate depression [12]. This plant relieves pain [13]; it is soothing [9], and has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system [14].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the aromatic effect of essential oil of lavender on electronic activity of the heart during exercise in healthy girls.

This study is semi-experimental and has pretest-posttest design.

The present study was conducted in 2015 in the active healthy girls of Shahid Rajaee University.

A sample of 9 third-year female students of sport science at Shahid Rajaee University was selected based on convenience sampling method.

At each session, the subjects sat and relaxed after entering the laboratory for 30 minutes. Subsequently, their resting blood pressure was measured in the same condition. Cotton was then immersed in 5 drops of ethanol or lavender essential oil (in the control and experimental group respectively) in the respiratory tract, and the belt was attached to the chest for recording electrocardiogram (CustoMed, Germany). After that, the subjects worked for 2 minutes at a speed of 4 km/h on a treadmill with the purpose of warm-up. Subsequently, the subjects relaxed as much as they wanted and began the main test. The Borg scale which was fitted in the front of the treadmill, was used to determine the pressure and Konkani sport test was used as an exercise activity to ensure that all subjects were on the verge of anaerobic threshold to a certain extent. Immediately after the end of the test, the blood pressure was measured and recorded. Statistical analysis: Shapro-Wilk test was used to examine the data distribution and the normality of distribution was confirmed for using parametric statistical tests. Data were analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student T-test and data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software.

Sport activity in both control and test groups significantly increased the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p˂0.05). The mean systolic blood pressure between groups showed a significant difference (p=0.001) and immediately after exercise, the difference in systolic blood pressure between the two groups was significant (p=0.006). In the experimental group, the mean systolic blood pressure increased significantly compared to the control group (27% and 21% respectively). However, the changes in the mean diastolic pressure were not significantly different in the two groups (p=0.429). After a minute of recovery, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both groups compared to returned resting values and their difference between the groups was not significant (p>0.05; Table 1). The completion of the activity of the wave height T began to decrease so that after one minute, it reached to 14% and 33% in the control and experimental groups respectively. However, despite a further decrease in the experimental group, it did not return to the resting values in none of the group, so that the difference between the altitude level and the recovery of T wave in both control group (p=0.02) and experimental groups (p=0.004) was significant. However, these changes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Similar to the changes in the wave R, the variations of the wave T was also significantly affected by exercise activity regardless of drug or placebo (p=0.0001). Changes in R-R interval from inhalation of lavender during exercise and after exercise were not statistically significant (p=0.58). The R-R distance in both group decreased during activity and increased during subsequent recovery. The pattern of change was the same in both groups and there was no significant difference between the two groups in any of measurements and the observed changes. In both groups, the R-R interval, which is a characteristic for the heart rhythm, fully recovered within one minute of rest, and it returned to the starting values. Changes in Q-T interval, also, was not significant due to inhalation of lavender during and after exercise (p=0.221). The observed changes at Q-T interval were very similar to the changes in R-R interval in both groups that is the reduction of interval due to exercise activity and return to the starting value was observed following one minute of recycling. Also, there were no significant differences in the measured values and the calculated changes between the two groups. Similarly, R-R and Q-T intervals, independently from placebo or drug, were influenced by the exercise activity (p=0.0001; Table 2).

… [15, 16]. Another study by Negay et al. found that the lavender breathing during exercise can significantly reduce diastolic pressure, but it is not effective in systolic blood pressure [17]. It has been shown earlier that lavender inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neuromuscular attachments [9]. … [18-22]. This may lead to reduction in absolute muscle activity during exercise and generally reduces the intensity of activity in the muscle. Another possibility is the effect of lavender breathing on coronary flow [23] that due to the decrease in the height of R wave due to the improvement of coronary blood flow happens in patients with myocardial infarction [24] and it cannot be discussed in healthy subjects because of the lack of the study. The observed changes in the wave height T and R-R and Q-T intervals in this study were in line with previous studies and consistent with increased heart rate [25].

It is suggested that a similar study be done with larger number of subjects, and a careful review of the response physiological mechanism be done.

The limitations of this study include the low number of the subjects, the possible effect of individual differences on the results, and inability of the researcher to control the psychological stress of the subjects as an effective factor on the cardiac function.

Lavender breathing affects cardiac function during exercise. It also affects the heart rate and systolic blood pressure.

We are grateful to all the people who participated in this research as a subject and helped us in its implementation.

Non-declared

Written consent was obtained from all the volunteers to participate in the research. The research project was morally examined and confirmed by the faculty members of the Physiology Department of Sport Physical Education at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Education University.

The article has no funding source.

TABLES and CHARTS

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