Analysis of Retinal Blood Vessel Diameters in Pregnant Women Practicing Yoga: A Feasibility Study

Studies have shown that practicing yoga during pregnancy beneficially affects maternal and neonatal outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of prenatal yoga on the microvascular circulatory system via non-invasive measurements of retinal blood vessels. We included 29 women who practiced prenatal yoga in the study. There were no statistically significant differences in arteriolar and venular diameters pre- vs. post-90 min yoga practice (150.5 +/- 11.4 mu m pre- vs. 151.2 +/- 10.2 mu m post-yoga; p = 0.53 for arteriolar and 221.8 +/- 16.1 mu m pre- vs. 223.2 +/- 15.7 mu m post-yoga; p = 0.51 for venular diameters). The current study demonstrated the feasibility of the setup. More extensive studies are needed to determine the potential microvascular effects of practicing yoga throughout pregnancy.

Automated summary

Studies have shown that practicing yoga during pregnancy has positive effects on both the mother and the baby. This study aimed to explore the impact of prenatal yoga on the microvascular circulatory system by measuring retinal blood vessels. The results showed no significant differences in arteriolar and venular diameters before and after a 90-minute yoga session. The study demonstrated the feasibility of the measurement setup and suggests the need for further research to investigate the potential microvascular effects of practicing yoga throughout pregnancy.