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Effect of Forest Walking on Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Middle-Aged Hypertensive Individuals: A Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Chorong Song

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Harumi Ikei

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Maiko Kobayashi

    (Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan)

  • Takashi Miura

    (Agematsu Town Office Industry & Tourism Department, Kiso, Nagano 399-5601, Japan)

  • Masao Taue

    (Agematsu Town Office, Kiso, Nagano 399-5603, Japan)

  • Takahide Kagawa

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture 305-8687, Japan)

  • Qing Li

    (Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan)

  • Shigeyoshi Kumeda

    (Nagano Prefectural Kiso Hospital, Nagano 397-8555, Japan)

  • Michiko Imai

    (Le Verseau Inc., Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-0051, Japan)

  • Yoshifumi Miyazaki

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan)

Abstract

There has been increasing attention on the therapeutic effects of the forest environment. However, evidence-based research that clarifies the physiological effects of the forest environment on hypertensive individuals is lacking. This study provides scientific evidence suggesting that a brief forest walk affects autonomic nervous system activity in middle-aged hypertensive individuals. Twenty participants (58.0 ± 10.6 years) were instructed to walk predetermined courses in forest and urban environments (as control). Course length (17-min walk), walking speed, and energy expenditure were equal between the forest and urban environments to clarify the effects of each environment. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate were used to quantify physiological responses. The modified semantic differential method and Profile of Mood States were used to determine psychological responses. The natural logarithm of the high-frequency component of HRV was significantly higher and heart rate was significantly lower when participants walked in the forest than when they walked in the urban environment. The questionnaire results indicated that, compared with the urban environment, walking in the forest increased “comfortable”, “relaxed”, “natural” and “vigorous” feelings and decreased “tension-anxiety,” “depression,” “anxiety-hostility,” “fatigue” and “confusion”. A brief walk in the forest elicited physiological and psychological relaxation effects on middle-aged hypertensive individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Maiko Kobayashi & Takashi Miura & Masao Taue & Takahide Kagawa & Qing Li & Shigeyoshi Kumeda & Michiko Imai & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2015. "Effect of Forest Walking on Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Middle-Aged Hypertensive Individuals: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:3:p:2687-2699:d:46256
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    References listed on IDEAS

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