Abstract
Background This study investigated morphological,
cardiovascular and neuromuscular profiles among
asymptomatic sedentary men performing the Islamic
prayer (Salaah). This study emphasised the need for an
inquiry into unique sedentary populations who perform
Islamic prayer as physical activity.
Methods An experimental study was conducted among
male participants (n=20). Resting heart rate (RHR), resting
systolic blood pressure (SBP), resting diastolic blood
pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI) and percentage
body fat (BF%) were measured before a timed Salaah
simulation activity. Electromyography (EMG) of the vastus
medialis oblique (VMO) was measured for maximum
voluntary contraction (MVC) and two movement transitions
of the Islamic prayer (Salaah). Bilateral manual muscle
strength (MMT) testing was also completed. Inferential and
descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS
(IBM, V.27.0). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used
to determine statistically significant relationships between
variables. The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results Negative correlations between post-Salaah
SBP
and MVC average (r=−0.19; p=0.42) and between the
post-Salaah
DBP and the MVC average (r=−0.40; p=0.08)
were not significant. Weak correlations were found
between the MVC average and the right (r=0.14; p=0.56)
and left (r=0.18; p=0.44) quadriceps femoris MMT values.
Conclusions This study demonstrated that individuals
who performed the Salaah were reasonably healthy in
terms of BMI, BF%, RHR, resting SBP, resting DBP, MMT
and MVC average values. The study further demonstrated
the electromyographic activity of the VMO muscle through
the Salaah for two movement transitions of the prayer.
Verily, this demonstrates preliminary evidence of EMG
activity for the VMO muscle in those who perform the
Salaah.