Summarized Findings of Studies (1970–2004) Investigating the Effects of Yoga and Yoga-Based Programs on Blood Pressure, Stratified by Study Design and Intervention (Studies Reporting Beneficial Effects Are in Bold)
| Findings, by Endpoint | Study Design | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-Sectional (Yoga Alone) | 1 to 2 Sessions (Yoga Alone) | Uncontrolled Clinical Trials (>2 sessions) | Non-Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials (>2 sessions) | Randomized Controlled Trials (>2 sessions) | ||||
| Yoga Alone | Multiple Interventions | Yoga Alone | Multiple Interventions | Yoga Alone | Multiple Interventions | |||
| Blood Pressure | ||||||||
| Reduced systolic and/or diastolic pressure | [96] | [97, 117]* [90, 116, 119] | [68, 104, 118] | [121, 122]* [93, 109, 120] [123]‡ [124] | [98]† [80] | [130]* [107, 125–128, 131] | [79, 87, 102, 129] | |
| No change in systolic or diastolic pressure | [110] | [103, 111] | [112] [113]‖ | [114, 115] | [101] | |||
| Systolic blood pressure | ||||||||
| Reduced | [97, 117]* [90, 116, 119] | [68, 104, 118] | [121, 122]* [93, 109, 120] [123]‡ | [80, 98] | [130]* [107, 125, 127, 128, 131] | [87]¶ [79, 129] | ||
| Unchanged | [96] | [110] | [103, 111] | [112] [113]‖ | [114] | [101] | ||
| Diastolic blood pressure | ||||||||
| Reduced | [96] | [97, 117]* [90, 116, 119] | [68, 104, 118] | [109, 121, 122]* [123]‡ [120] | [80, 98] | [130]* [107, 125, 127, 128, 131] | [79, 87, 102, 129] | |
| Unchanged | [103, 111] | [113]‖ [93, 112] | [114] | [101] | ||||
| Reduced mean blood pressure | [124] | [126, 128] | ||||||
* With biofeedback.
† Only among individuals with high initial SBP.
‡ In both hypertensive and normotensive subjects.
§At 4 year follow up of individuals at risk for CVD.
‖ Yoga PR in addition to exercise vs exercise alone.
¶ P = .07 to .08.87
Abbreviation: PR, pranayama.