Abstract

Background: Falls and fractures are very common in the elderly due to reduced swiftness of the response, decreased attention, and concentration. Normal reference point of temperature and pain threshold also varies in old age adding to their chronic illness. Important factor contributing to this is an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). As nostril breathing exercises were known to modulate the ANS, the present study was done to find out the immediate effect of slow right nostril breathing (RNB) and left nostril breathing (LNB) exercises on reaction time, pain sensitivity, and temperature in the elderly population. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study were to measure the effect of 30 min of RNB and LNB exercises on auditory and visual reaction time, pain sensitivity, and temperature in elderly individuals.
Materials and Methods: The study was done in the Department of Physiology of a Private Medical College in Madurai, on 30 healthy subjects aged 50–70 years. Reaction time was measured with discriminatory and choice time reaction apparatus, pain with digital algometer, and temperature with clinical thermometer.
Results: A significant decrease in reaction time and pain threshold (P < 0.001 and <0.001) was observed with RNB exercises without change in temperature (0.909). A significant increase in reaction time, pain threshold, and decrease in body temperature (P < 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001) was observed with LNB exercises. Conclusion: RNB decreases reaction time and increases pain sensitivity without affecting body temperature. LNB increases reaction time but decreases pain sensitivity, and body temperature.