<p>Clinicians and meditation practitioners have undertaken research in at least three Delhi hospitals to ascertain if yoga can improve the overall condition of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology had invited proposals for the study in April.</p>.<p>In the national capital, the research is being conducted at the AIIMS, the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH).</p>.<p>The study evaluates the effect of yoga -- pranayama and relaxation -- on stress, mood, sleep quality, symptom severity, quality of life and clinical outcomes in coronavirus patients, Dr Ajit Jain, the nodal officer for Covid-19 at RGSSH, said.</p>.<p>Only those diagnosed with Covid-19 through RT-PCR testing, who have mild symptoms and are aged between 18 and 60 years are being included in the research, he said.</p>.<p>Those suffering from severe coronavirus infection, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases cannot participate in it.</p>.<p>The research involves a mobile application-based yoga intervention programme and non-obtrusive, non-contact monitoring of the patients' vitals, using a novel technology -- the Dozee sensor mat.</p>.<p>The sensor mat is placed under a patient's mattress. It can figure how healthy the patient is or if he is developing any disorder like sleep apnea or heart disorders.</p>.<p>It monitors the heart rate, the respiration rate, stress levels and sleep quality, the doctor said.</p>.<p>"The study will assess if yoga intervention helped reduce stress, improve sleep and vitals in this population," reads its concept note.</p>.<p>Covid-19 patients remain in isolation during treatment and develop anxiety and stress due to confinement and uncertainty of the disease trajectory.</p>.<p>Psychological distress due to isolation can down-regulate the immune defences of patients and increase the severity of the illness, Jain said.</p>.<p>The researchers are using a mobile-based yoga application that can deliver yoga modules and evaluating the response of the patients using the sensor mat.</p>.<p>Researchers say studies on yoga and meditation in managing flu symptoms during an influenza season have shown promising results. </p>
<p>Clinicians and meditation practitioners have undertaken research in at least three Delhi hospitals to ascertain if yoga can improve the overall condition of Covid-19 patients.</p>.<p>The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology had invited proposals for the study in April.</p>.<p>In the national capital, the research is being conducted at the AIIMS, the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH).</p>.<p>The study evaluates the effect of yoga -- pranayama and relaxation -- on stress, mood, sleep quality, symptom severity, quality of life and clinical outcomes in coronavirus patients, Dr Ajit Jain, the nodal officer for Covid-19 at RGSSH, said.</p>.<p>Only those diagnosed with Covid-19 through RT-PCR testing, who have mild symptoms and are aged between 18 and 60 years are being included in the research, he said.</p>.<p>Those suffering from severe coronavirus infection, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases cannot participate in it.</p>.<p>The research involves a mobile application-based yoga intervention programme and non-obtrusive, non-contact monitoring of the patients' vitals, using a novel technology -- the Dozee sensor mat.</p>.<p>The sensor mat is placed under a patient's mattress. It can figure how healthy the patient is or if he is developing any disorder like sleep apnea or heart disorders.</p>.<p>It monitors the heart rate, the respiration rate, stress levels and sleep quality, the doctor said.</p>.<p>"The study will assess if yoga intervention helped reduce stress, improve sleep and vitals in this population," reads its concept note.</p>.<p>Covid-19 patients remain in isolation during treatment and develop anxiety and stress due to confinement and uncertainty of the disease trajectory.</p>.<p>Psychological distress due to isolation can down-regulate the immune defences of patients and increase the severity of the illness, Jain said.</p>.<p>The researchers are using a mobile-based yoga application that can deliver yoga modules and evaluating the response of the patients using the sensor mat.</p>.<p>Researchers say studies on yoga and meditation in managing flu symptoms during an influenza season have shown promising results. </p>