The Effect of Prostration (Sajda) on Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity

Salat is offered by muslem whorshippers, and the second pillar of the Islamic faith. The various aspects of the prayer ritual including standing, bowing,sajda (prostration) and sitting. Although obligatory prayer is a spiritual act involving total obedience and submission to allah but it is being increasingly recognized that it has therapeutic values, physical exercise of the musculoskeletal system as well as increasing cerebral blood flow.The aim of current study is to determine the effects of prostration on velocity of cerebral blood flow by means of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). We studied�42 (22 males, 20 females) healthy volunteers among medical student in alzahra hospital affiliated by isfahan university of medical sciences. All of volunteers were insonated through suboccipital window in sitting and prostration position aim to measure basilar flow velocity.� Basilar artery mean velocities were 39.25±11cm/s and 50±10.5 cm/s in sitting and prostration position, respectively (23% increase velocity, p<0.05). No significant difference were found between males and females, p=0.25.The results indicated that cerebral vasoconstriction resistance did not has not occurred to prevent brain over perfusion during prostration. our study indicate that prostration increase cerebral blood flow in healthy subjects and may be benefficial in elderly and stroke patients.