Association between Physical Activity and Autonomic Nervous System in Young Sedentary Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: A sedentary lifestyle is a key driver of early onset Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which governs involuntary functions and maintains internal balance, may be disrupted by physical inactivity in young adults-an area still under debate. Understanding these early changes could guide timely preventive strategies. Aim: To investigate the association between physical activity levels, ANS function, and functional capacity in young sedentary adult. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at SRIHER (DU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India from March 2023 to May 2024. A total of 112 participants (aged 18-30 years; both sexes) with low to moderate physical activity levels, as assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), were enrolled. Demographic data (age, sex, height, and weight) were collected, along with baseline assessments including Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-hip circumference, perceived stress using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), autonomic function (Ewing’s battery), and functional capacity (Six Minute Walk Test [SMWT]). Associations among variables were examined using Chi-square tests and One-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 112 participants were included in the study. Of these, 46 were male with a mean age of 25.22±4.38 years, and 66 were female with a mean age of 24.27±4.02 years. Physical activity levels showed significant associations with total Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) scores, particularly in sympathetic (p=0.026) and parasympathetic (p=0.044) functions. The SMWT also associated with CAN scores (p=0.005) and parasympathetic activity (p=0.011), but not with sympathetic activity (p=0.237). Conclusion: The study highlights that physical activity levels significantly impact ANS functionality, especially parasympathetic activity. The SMWT further underscores its importance in assessing CAN, stressing the need for active lifestyles to maintain autonomic homeostasis and prevent lifestyle related diseases.