Impact of Short-Term Yoga on Pulmonary Functions in Healthy Individuals | Chapter 3 | Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 10

 

Background and Objective: Yoga is widely practiced as a simple approach to good health. Yogic techniques are reported to enhance overall performance and physiological efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function in healthy individuals aged 20–65 years before and after short-term yoga training, and to compare the effects between young and middle-aged adults.

 

Methods: A comparative prospective study was conducted on 52 healthy individuals (age 20–65 years). Participants were divided into two groups: Group I (n=28, age 20–40 years, young adults) and Group II (n=24, age 41–65 years, middle-aged adults). Pulmonary function parameters, including Breath Holding Time (BHT), 40 mmHg Endurance Test, Vital Capacity (VC), FEV1%, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), were measured before and after 2 weeks of yoga training.

 

Results: Before yoga training, Group I had significantly higher 40 mmHg Endurance Test values (23.48 ± 10.06 vs. 23.37 ± 9.92 sec; p=0.01) and PEFR (462.16 ± 69.17 vs. 413.46 ± 0.59 L/min; p=0.01) compared to Group II, while BHT (32.31 ± 11.03 vs. 29.54 ± 14.06 sec), VC (2156 ± 314 vs. 1826 ± 457 ml), and FEV1% (86.57 ± 9.20 vs. 83.03 ± 11.95) were higher but not statistically significant. After yoga training, Group I showed highly significant improvements in BHT (32.31 ± 11.03 → 41.51 ± 11.86 sec, p<0.001), 40 mmHg Endurance Test (23.48 ± 10.06 → 29.79 ± 10.36 sec, p<0.001), VC (2156 ± 314 → 2466 ± 306 ml, p<0.01), FEV1% (86.57 ± 9.20 → 95.32 ± 4.22, p<0.001), and PEFR (462.16 ± 69.17 → 557 ± 57.9 L/min, p<0.001). Group II also showed significant improvements in all parameters (p<0.001). Post-yoga, PEFR remained significantly higher in Group I compared to Group II (557 ± 57.9 vs. lower values in Group II, p=0.01), while other parameters were not significantly different.

 

Conclusion: Short-term yoga (2 weeks) significantly improved pulmonary function parameters in healthy adults aged 20–65 years, with more pronounced benefits in young adults (20–40 years).

 

 

Author(s) Details

Lata M Mullur
Department of Physiology, BLDEU’s Shri B.M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Bijapur-586103, Karnataka, India.

 

Shrilaxmi Bagali
Department of Physiology, BLDEU’s Shri B.M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Bijapur-586103, Karnataka, India.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v10/6160