22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Sitting Position Influences Heart Rate Variability
Mark D. Schafer*, Ian M. Arndt, David M. Lau, and Joshua T. Peterson
Dr. Fred Shaffer, Faculty Mentor
The present within-subjects study examined how subtle postural changes affect global and power spectral measures of heart rate variability obtained from a PPG sensor. Fifty-seven undergraduates (28 men and 29 women), 18 to 35 years of age, participated in this study for academic credit. Participants were stabilized for five minutes sitting quietly with eyes open with no postural instructions and then were randomly assigned to one of six orders of sitting upright, sitting with a forward slouch, and sitting with a backward slouch. Each sitting condition included no feedback, lasted three minutes, and was separated by a two-minute buffer period. The findings show that sitting position affects pNN50, SDRR, and HR Max HR Min, global measures of heart rate variability, and the percentage of power in the LF and HF bands.
Keywords: Heart, Rate, Variability, Posture, Biofeedback, Psychology
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 36-3
Location: VH 1010
Time: 1:45