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An evaluation of pulmonary parameters in two groups of subjectsduring Yoga practice

QR Ahmed,1 SK Sau2 and SK Kar3

Department of Physiology, 1Rohilkhand Medical College and hospital, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2Institute of Dental Sciences,Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, 3Universal College of Medical Sciences, Paklihawa Campus, Bhairahawa, Lumbini, Nepal

Corresponding author: Dr. Sanjit Kumar Kar MSc, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Universal College of MedicalSciences, Paklihawa Campus, Bhairahawa, Post Box: 53, Lumbini Zone, Nepal;

e-mail: drkarsk @rediffmail.com / ucmscampus@wlink.com.np

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate how far the short term practice of yoga (30 and 60 days) foran hour daily can improve the respiratory function. Male subjects (n=50, age 30-50 years) were randomlyselected. Respiratory parameters (FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEF25-75% and MVV) were determined by using amultifunctional computerized spirometer. Yoga (posture and pranayamas) practice for a month produced nosignificant improvement in pulmonary parameters. Nevertheless, when the subjects continued it for next 30days, i.e., after 60 days significant changes were noted in FVC (p<0.001), FEV1 (p<0.01) and PEFR (p<0.05).The result also revealed that amongst them 30 days yoga training resulted in a significant increase in FVC inelder group of people (age 41-50 yrs) where as in younger group (age 30-40 yrs) the changes were not soprominent. Result indicated that short term (30 days) yoga practice quickly improves respiratory functions inrelatively elder people (age 41-50 yrs), when many of them in our tropical country suffer from primary level ofrespiratory problem. Regular practice of Yoga (posture and pranayamas) can prevent it by increasing theefficacy of respiratory muscles.Keywords: Yoga, pranayama, breathing exercises, FVC, FEV1, PEFR.

INTRODUCTION

Yoga is popular all over the world nowadays. It increaseslongevity,1 and has therapeutic and rehabilitative effects.2-5

Yoga techniques include the practice of meditation, avariety of breathing exercises, and the practice of anumber of physical exercises and postures, in which thefocus is more on isometric exercise and stretching thanon aerobic fitness.6

Pranayama is an important component of yoga training.Pranayama (controlled breathing exercise) improves theair way reactivity in the asthmatic individuals.7 It wasnoted that high frequency breathing exercise resulted inmore than 10 fold increase in expired minute ventilation.8Many reports supported the beneficial effect of long-term yoga training on pulmonary functions.9-11

It has been reported that yoga practice an hour/day, for12 weeks resulted significant increment in the forcedvital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1st

second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).12

Yoga was proved to be helpful for bronchial asthma.13

In a study with subjects between the ages of 40 to 60yearswith no previous yoga experience, 80.0% showedimprovement in breath holding time after the completionof an intensive yoga program.14

The purpose of the present investigation was todetermine how far yoga practice over a short durationof 60 days for an hour daily can improve respiratoryfunction.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted in Department ofPhysiology of Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospitalwith the collaboration of Yoga center of Bareilly, U.P., India.

New comer male subjects (age 30-50 years) wereselected randomly from the yoga center of Bareilly,practicing yoga regularly. The subjects were priorlyinformed about the study and the consents were taken.They were divided in to two age groups: Gr. - A (30-40yrs, n=25) and Gr.- B (41-50 yrs, n=25).

The pulmonary function tests or respiratory capacity ofthe subjects were determined using a multifunctionalcomputerized spirometer (Sl. No. A-23-050.0883).Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expired Volume-1st-- sec. (FEV1), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR),Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF25-75%) and MaximumVoluntary Ventilation (MVV) were measured.

The subjects were asked to take a deep breath and blow itinto the mouth piece of the spirometer. A nasal clip was

Original Article Nepal Med Coll J 2010; 12(3): 180-182

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used to close the nose to prevent the air flow through thenostrils. Before taking the reading they were instructedto do the same 2 - 3 times for the better expiration. Theywere asked to practice the yoga (posture and pranayamas)regularly and the data on the same parameters werecollected after 30 days and 60 days interval.

Data were analyzed with the help of a software packageon ‘Statistical’ (Version 6.0). The ‘t’-test and ‘p’ valuesamong different groups of parameters were done.

RESULTS

The all pulmonary parameters which were taken beforeand after 30 days and 60 days of yoga practice of the allsubjects are presented in the Table-1 which indicatedthat 30 days of yoga practice produced no significantchange in pulmonary parameters. Nevertheless, whenthe subjects continued it for next 30 days, i.e., after 60days significant changes were noted in FVC (p<0.001),FEV1 (p<0.01) and PEFR (p<0.05).

The results also revealed a significant increase in FVC

(p<0.001) in Group B (age 41-50 yrs) after30 days training as well as after 60 dayswhereas in Group A (age 30-40 yrs) thesignificant changes were noted only after 60days of Yoga (posture and pranayamas)practice.

DISCUSSION

Yoga practice causes betterment ofpulmonary functions. Studies revealed thebeneficial effect the yoga on cardiorespiratory function of school children15 butthe increase in FVC and FEV1 in the groupwas statistically insignificant. PEFR

increased significantly in the Yoga and fast and slow‘Suryanamaskar’ groups.

Our findings are consistent with those studies whichnoted an increase in FVC, FEV1 and PEFR after yogatraining.16,12 Short term ‘pranayama’ ( six week course)resulted in increased FVC and FEV1 which might bedue to strengthening of the respiratory musculature withthe regular practice of the Yoga.17,18

With the advancement of the age the strength of therespiratory musculature decreases and the normalexpansion of the chest does not occur. Result revealedthat the respiratory parameters are significantly increasedin Gr.-B after 30 days of yoga practice and the significantdifference also noted in Gr.-B after 60 days. Earlierstudies also supported that short term yoga practice (tenweeks course) recorded improved respiratory functionsin the form of lowered respiratory rate, increased forcedvital capacity, maximum breathing capacity and breathholding time, while tidal volume and FEV1, did notreveal any significant change.16

QR Ahmed et al

Table-1: Pulmonary parameters before and after YogaPulmonary All Subjects (n=50)Parameters

Before Yoga After 30 days After 60 days(Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD)

FVC (l) 2.33 ±0.73 2.58 ±0.56 2.79 ±0.53*FEV1 (l) 1.92 ±0.36 2.00 ±0.37 2.14 ±0.35**FEV1/FVC (%) 77.72 ±12.33 82.22 ±15.81 82.51 ±15.39PEFR (l min-1) 4.82 ±1.73 5.31 ±1.44 5.59 ±1.59***FEF25-75 (l) 2.66 ±0.98 2.85 ±0.84 2.89 ±0.77MVV (l min-1) 88.92 ±30.65 90.10 ±27.05 93.77 ±26.85

* P<0.001 ** P<0.01 *** P<0.05

* Indicate within group w.r.t. before yoga * p<0.05 ** p<0.001 ***p<0.02^ Indicate between groups with respect to before yoga ^ p<0.001 ^^ p<0.01$ Indicate between groups with respect to after 30 days yoga $ p<0.001# Indicate between groups with respect to after 60 days yoga # p<0.001 ## p<0.02 ### p<0.01

Age Gr. (yrs)Gr.-A (30-40 yrs, n=25) Gr.-B (41-50 yrs, n=25)

Pulmonary Parameters Before Yoga After 30 days After 60 days Before Yoga After 30 days After 60 days(Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD) (Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD) Yoga (Mean± SD)

FVC (l) 2.77 ±0.62 2.93 ±0.41 3.10* ±0.42 1.89^ ±0.54 2.24***$ ±0.48 2.48**# ±0.45FEV1 (l) 2.10 ±0.28 2.25 ±0.26 2.35** ±0.20 1.75^ ±0.36 1.75$ ±0.29 1.93# ±0.34FEV1/FVC (%) 72.44 ±11.27 77.91 ±11.72 77.10 ±11.16 83.00^^ ±11.19 86.53 ±18.29 87.92## ±17.27PEFR (l min-1) 5.66 ±1.77 6.00 ±1.55 6.62* ±1.51 3.98^ ±1.22 4.62*$ ±0.91 4.56# ±0.81FEF25-75 (l) 3.08 ±1.01 3.25 ±0.89 3.25 ±0.81 2.24^^ ±0.76 2.45$ ±0.56 2.54# ±0.53MVV (l min-1) 102.59 ±25.75 104.38 ±24.58 105.60 ±24.42 75.26^ ±29.44 75.83$ ±21.59 81.95### ±24.19

Table-2: Pulmonary parameters before and after yoga between two age groups

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Study of Pathak et al. indicated subjects performing‘Pranayama’ though a little older in age than matchedcontrol group, preserved their body in better frame,remained more proportionate with respiratory functionsand exhibited stronger grip strength.19

Present study indicated that short term (30 days) Yogapractice (posture and pranayamas) is beneficial mainlyin elder group of people (age 41-50 yrs) when manypeople in our tropical country suffer form primary levelof respiratory problems. Regular practice of Yoga canprevent it by increasing the efficacy of respiratorymuscles.

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