Immediate effect of basic body awareness therapy on heart rate variability

ObjectiveTo determine the immediate effect of a Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BAT) session on measures of heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy young people.Methods13 healthy young subjects of both genders, who showed no illnesses related to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) underwent an ANS evaluation before and after conducting a session of BAT. The assessment of ANS activity was conducted through the HR with the aid of Nerve-Express® software. The BAT session lasted for 50 min and was performed by one investigator (blinded to the assessment procedures).ResultsAfter BAT session significant improvement was found in the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation (p < 0.05), and the general estimate of heart rate variability (p < 0.04).ConclusionBAT was found to be an effective, easy to apply and inexpensive therapeutic technique, able to change ANS in order to improve HR which may suggest better health conditions for participating individuals.