STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOGA AS A CONTROL MEASURE FOR BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 95
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interest of Western Medical Scientists in the study and on hatha yoga techniques (Uddiyana and Nauli) was started by Swami Kuvalayananda. Around 1920 and 1924, he established Kaivalyadhama, an institution totally devoted to yogic research training and treatment at Lonavla near Bombay. A study by Nagarathna and Nagendra concerned with yoga for bronchial asthma shows a reduction in the number of attacks per week, severity score, drug treatment score and an improvement in peak flow rate. In a study of autonomic responses to breath holding and its variations following pranayama, there was significant increase in breath holding time. In a study of the effect of yoga breathing exercises on airway reactivity in subjects with asthma, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), PEFR, symptom score and inhaler use improved in yoga group compared to placebo, but the differences were not significant. So a study comparing the effect of selected Yoga methods before and after yoga training is relevant. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is an uncontrolled clinical trial. The patients with history of asthma were selected from the Yoga group of Sathyananda Yoga Centre and they were given a package of selected Yoga training. In this study, the effectiveness of yoga as a control measure for asthma is studied by comparing the effect of Yoga training on the following parameters. 1. Respiratory rate. 2. Chest expansion. 3. Body mass index. 4. Breath holding time. 5. Pulmonary function tests. In addition, a questionnaire was given to the 25 asthma patients about the frequency and severity of symptoms before and after yoga. RESULTS Respiratory rate was in the range of 16/min - 34/min before yoga and it reduced to 14/min - 30/min after yoga in this group. Mean reduction in respiratory rate is highly significant. The chest expansion was in the range of 5 cm - 9 cm before yoga and 5 cm11 cm after yoga in asthmatics. The increase in chest expansion is highly significant. The study shows a highly significant change in breath holding time after yoga. BHT was noticed to be in the range of 10 sec - 45 sec before yoga and it increased to the range of 15 sec - 50 sec after yoga. So, the change is highly significant. BMI was in the range of 15.5 kg/m2 - 30.7 kg/m2 before yoga and 15.5 kg/m2 - 29.7 kg/m2 after yoga. The reduction in BMI is highly significant. All the pulmonary function parameters including ERV, IC and PEFR showed a significant increase in asthmatics, whereas in normal subjects only vital capacity, forced vital capacity, FEV1 and MVV were increased significantly. This shows that the effect of yoga is more profound in asthmatics than in normals as far as PFT is concerned. A subjective decrease in frequency and severity of symptoms was observed in most of the asthmatics following Yoga. CONCLUSION The practice of specific yoga postures can produce significant reduction in respiratory rate, body mass index and a significant increase in chest expansion and breath holding time. Moreover, all the pulmonary function tests showed a significant improvement after Yoga training. A profound effect on respiratory system can be produced by practice of specific Yoga postures and a subjective decrease in the frequency and severity of symptoms can be produced in bronchial asthma. The daily practice of yoga can be used as a control measure for bronchial asthma.
Authors and Affiliations
Mini K, Vasudevan M. N
Keywords
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- EP ID EP280665
- DOI 10.14260/jemds/2017/1528
- Views 81
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