Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Research Article

Effects of Autogenic Training on Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Recovery in Japanese Obese/Overweight Male Workers

¹Institute for Occupational Health Science, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan

²Department of Health and Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Japan

³Institute of Physical Fitness, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan

*Corresponding Author:

Akihiko Narisada
Institute for Occupational Health Science, Aichi Medical University
1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
Tel: + 81 561 62 3311 (ext. 13376)
Fax: +81 561 63 3479
E-mail: akihikonarisada@yahoo.co.jp

Received date: May 26, 2017; Accepted date: June 09, 2017; Published date: June 12, 2017

Citation: Narisada A, Hasegawa T, Nakahigashi M, Hirobe T, Ushida T, et al. (2017) Effects of Autogenic Training on Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Recovery in Japanese Obese/Overweight Male Workers. J Obes Weight Loss Ther 7:340. doi:10.4172/2165-7904.1000340

Copyright: © 2017 Narisada A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Objective: Obesity-induced autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is related to cardiac disease. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of autogenic training (AT), a therapeutic relaxation technique, on cardiac ANS functions as evaluated by heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate recovery (HRR) in Japanese obese/overweight subjects.

Methods: Subjects were 40 obese/overweight male workers (42.7 ± 8.8 years old, BMI 28.8 ± 3.3 kg/m2). The subjects were randomly assigned to an AT intervention group and a control group. Subjects of the intervention group were required to perform the AT training procedures (first-third steps) for three months, while the control group participants were waiting. Before and after intervention, HRV was calculated using a 24 hr Holter ECG, and HRR was assessed by a treadmill test. In addition, Profile of Mood States (POMS), job stress and sleep conditions were assessed. Effects of AT intervention were statistically examined using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

Results: For the HRV, the ratio of the Low Frequency to the High Frequency (LF/HF) during sleep was significantly reduced in the AT group (-39.2% and -0.6%, respectively, p=0.009). HRR was lengthened in the AT group (5.2% and 0.6%, respectively, p=0.042). In addition, the Confusion-Bewilderment score in POMS was improved in the AT group. However, mediation analysis indicated that the Confusion-Bewilderment score was not considered as a mediator between AT and ANS.

Conclusions: A three month AT intervention improved cardiac ANS activities in Japanese obese/overweight men. These results suggest the beneficial effects of AT on obesity-related cardiovascular conditions.

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