ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2015 July-August;174(7-8):331-41

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Vascular protective effects of religious-related physical activities

Alomari M. A. ¹, Shqair D. M. ², Alawneh K. ^{3, 4}, Khabour O. F. ^{5, 6}, Nazzal M. E. ^{1, 7, 8}, Sadaqah M. A. ¹

¹ Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ² Deparment of Nutrition, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ³ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ⁴ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, King Abdulla Hospital, Irbid, Jordan; ⁵ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ⁶ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia; ⁷ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ⁸ Department of Physical Medicine, King Abdulla Hospital, Irbid, Jordan

AIM: The vascular effects of religious-related physical activities (RRPA) are not known, despite the cardiovascular benefits of regular physical activity. The current study examined the relationships of RRPA with vascular measures.
METHODS: Arterial and venous indices were examined in 192 healthy participants (age: 19-80 years) using strain gauge plethysmography. The participants’ RRPA were collected in a 1-to-1 interview, including daily prayer (PN) and rakaa number (RN) performed, daily distance (DW) and time (TW) required to walk to the Masjid, and the daily (DA) and weekly (WA) attendance to the Masjid.
RESULTS: Resting blood flow correlated significantly with DW, TW, DA, and WA (r=0.2-0.4; p<0.01). Resting vascular resistance correlated with DW, TW, DA, and WA (r=-0.14-0.2; p<0.05). Resting venous capacitance correlated with DW, TW, DA, and WA (r=0.14-0.17; p<0.05). Resting outflow correlated with DW, TW, DA, and WA (r=0.15-0.2; p<0.05). Occlusion blood flow correlated with DW (r=0.17; p=0.02). Occlusion outflow correlated with DW and DA (r=0.16-0.17; p<0.05). Additionally, arterial and venous indices were greater (p<0.05) in the participants regularly prayed in the Masjid.
CONCLUSION: The results confirm the importance of physical activities for the circulatory system. Uniquely, the data shows that RRPA might contribute to the maintenance of vascular function.