1Department of Physiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune
2Department of Physiology, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai
3Department of Anatomy, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune
Department of Physiology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune
*Corresponding author's email: drgauriapte@gmail.com
The ancient science of Yoga is known to promote health and prevent certain illnesses. A long-term practice of Yoga brings about positive changes in almost all physiological parameters of an individual. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether a combination of various Yoga practices for short duration is effective to improve pulmonary functions.
Pulmonary function tests viz. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1%, Maximum Ventilatory Volume (MVV), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Flow 25 to 75% (FEF 25 to 75%), Maximum Expiratory Flow Rate for 0.2 to 1.2 liters (MEFR 0.2 to 1.2L) were carried out in healthy males (n=31) and females (n=29) in the age group of 18 to 50 yrs. All subjects underwent yoga practice over a period of 4 months (40 minutes/day) which included various yogasanas, breathing exercises and shuddhi kriyas. At the end of four months, same pulmonary function tests were repeated and results were analyzed.
It was found that the FVC, FEV1, MVV, PEFR, FEF 25 to 75%, & MEFR 0.2 to 1.2L improved significantly while FEV1% remained unchanged.
Even a short duration practice of Yoga is effective in improvement of pulmonary functions and ultimately fitness of an individual.
Yoga, Pulmonary Function Tests, physical fitness
