Effects of an oriental breathing technique on postural contorl

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25560300
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Developmental mechanisms and the body works
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University of Education (2015-2016); Gifu Shotoku Gakuen Junior College (2013-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Itaya Atsushi 北海道教育大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (40649068)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 呼吸法 / 東洋的身体技法 / 姿勢制御 / 姿勢動揺 / 自動性 / 二重課題法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We empirically know the healing effects of oriental breathing techniques found in oriental body works such as Qigong and Yoga. However, there are few scientific evidences to prove those effects. Here, we developed a generalized simple oriental breathing technique and examined our hypothesis that the oriental breathing technique facilitates automaticity of postural control. We analyzed postural sway data during quiet stance measured before and after the breathing technique. Results revealed that irregularity (randomness) of center of pressure increased after the technique. Furthermore, after the technique, cognitive and postural dual task performance improved, especially in postural task. Thus, we conclude that the oriental breathing technique developed in this study facilitate automaticity of postural control.

Free Research Field

体育学