Effect of yoga exercise on pulmonary function in young medical students

Yoga is well known for its contribution towards maintenance of normal health since Vedic period. Medical students have been shown to exhibit early risk factors for chronic diseases due to lack of exercise and stress due to their curriculum. The study was designed to assess the effect of yoga exercise on Lung Function among young medical students. 60 male first year MBBS students volunteers age ranging from 17 to 19 years, studying at Madras Medical College, Chennai were recruited for present study. They were taught yoga and allowed to practice yoga daily for 45 minutes for 10 weeks. Parameters like weight, BMI, chest expansion, Respiratory rate, Mean Expiratory Pressure (MEP) and Mean Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and spirometric parameters like FVC, FEV1 and PEFR were recorded before and after the study. A significant reduction in weight, increase in cheat expansion, MEP, MIP, FEV, FEV1and PEFR with p value < 0.001. No significant change in BMI, respiratory rate was observed. All Medical students along with their busy curriculum as to be trained and encouraged to practice yoga daily to improve their lung function and life pattern.