Assessment of change in functional parameters of cardiovascular system of future actors in performance of various roles and relaxation exercises

Abstract

Introduction. There is a tendency that young actors experience stress, anxiousness and depression [1]. As well other factors that may negatively affect the wellbeing of actors’ health are a busy routine, lack of sleep and huge pressure to perform even in the case of illness [2]. The research aims to define the reactions of cardiovascular system while practising relaxation exercises and in the situations of real performance. Research aim: to evaluate the change in functional parameters of cardiovascular system while performing various roles and relaxation exercises depending on the sex. Research methods and organization. The research has been carried out at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. The participants of the research – 21 students of third year: 11 male students (of the average age of 21.5 ±2.7 years), 10 female students (of the average age of 20.5 ±1.2 years). BMI of the male students: 21.96 ±2.4 kg/m², KMI of the female students: 20.92 ±1.8 kg/m². Course of research. The monitoring of ECG lasted for 25 minutes and was divided into 5 stages each taking 5 minutes: the first stage – 0–5 min (rest, progressive muscle relaxation), second stage – 5–10 min (drama), third stage – 10–15 min (comedy), fourth stage – 15–20 min (tragedy), fifth stage – 20– 25 min (rest, autogenic training). To evaluate how deeply the actors can relax in short time, 5 min relaxation was chosen. Different roles were interpreted by the participants according to the same dialogue from William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”. Methodology of research. Computer-based ECG monitoring system “Kaunas – Krūvis” created in the Institute of Cardiology at LSMU was used to record ECG, to process the initial data, to filter the noise, to recognise ECG complexes and to measure its parameters. In the end of each stage the average duration of JT and RR intervals’ cardiac cycles was recorded. The HCR was [...]