Positive Health Online

Abstract

PIFERI and colleagues, Psychology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0900, USA conducted studies to determine an alternative to traditional rest for achieving baseline and recovery levels of cardiovascular measurements.

Background

Baseline and recovery levels of cardiovascular measurements are important in calculating cardiovascular reactivity.

Methodology

Subjects either watched a relaxing aquatic video or simply rested quietly (traditional resting) and baseline measurements of cardiovascular function were recorded, in order to determine which was the better method for achieving low baseline levels of cardiovascular function. Watching the video was also compared with traditional rest during 5-minute post-task recovery periods, and recovery levels of cardiovascular function were recorded.

Results

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased more during the baseline period when subjects watched the video than when subjects simply rested quietly. Also, subjects showed greater recovery following mental tasks when they watched the video compared with simply resting quietly.

Conclusion

The authors recommend that other researchers standardize baseline procedures by showing subjects a relaxing video before administering tasks for the assessment of cardiovascular reactivity.

References

Piferi RL et al. An alternative approach for achieving cardiovascular baseline: viewing an aquatic video. International Journal of Psychophysiology 37 (2): 207-17. Aug 2000. @i:57