To study the effect of yoga asana and pranayama on pulmonary function test in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) patients

Abstract

Background: Pranayama is an integral part of yoga training. Pranayama is a regulated breathing practice that improves airway responsiveness. Yoga asana and pranayama have been shown to reduce resting respiratory rate and enhance vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation, breath-holding time, maximal inspiratory pressure, and expiratory pressure. Aim: This study aims to study the effect of yoga, asana, and pranayama on pulmonary function disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study which was conducted in the Department of Physiology in association with the Department of Respiratory Medicine Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, with a sample size of 55 participants on stable patients diagnosed (COPD) with aged between 40 and 65 years of either sex. Written informed consent and approval from the institutional ethics committee were taken before starting the study. The paired t-test was used to compare the mean and standard deviation of the quantitative variables. When the P < 0.05, the results are statistically significant. To conduct statistical analysis, SPSS 20.0 was used. Results: We observed a statistically significant increase in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FVC/FEV1 ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate after 8 and 12 weeks of yoga training compared to the first visit (0 week) baseline before yoga training. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that the regular practice of yoga, asana, and pranayama for 45 min a day minimum of 3 days a week for 12 weeks showed improvement in pulmonary function tests of COPD patients. It was also concluded that yoga and asana along with pharmacological treatment for COPD patients showed improved breathing patterns and pulmonary function parameters. It was observed that yoga, asana, and pranayama had improved physical condition by reducing weight and body mass index which enhances pulmonary function.