The Short Term Effect of Pranayama
on the Lung Parameters
27-30
Correspondence
Dr. Shankarappa V.
Phone: 07845223255
E-mail: shankarappa.v1@gmail.com
Introduction: Yoga is a science which has been practised in India from over thousands of years. Besides its spiritual achievements, the practice of yoga is accompanied by a number of beneficial physiological effects in the body. Pranayama is an art of controlling the life force of breath. It produces many systemic psycho-physical effects in the body, besides its specific effects on the respiratory functions. This study is designed to study the effects of short- term pranayama (6 weeks) on the pulmonary function parameters.
Methods: The study group consisted of 50 young adults (26 males and 24 females) who were newly recruited for yoga training at the Patanjali Yoga Center, Kolar. They were motivated to undergo pranava, Nadishuddi and Savitri Pranayama training for 1 hour daily, for 6 days a week. The first phase of the recording of the pulmonary parameters was done at the beginning of their course. The second phase of the recording was done after 6 weeks of the regular pranayama practice.
Results: The FVC - before pranayama showed a value of 2.60±0.40 and after pranayama, it showed a value of 3.20±0.43. The FEV1- before pranayama showed a value of 2.36±0.36 and after pranayama, it showed a value of 2.96±0.42. The PEFR - before pranayama showed a value of 6.09±1.03 and after pranayama, it showed a value of 7.38±1.12. The FEF (25%- 75%) - before pranayama showed a value of 2.93±0.47 and after pranayama, it showed a value of 3.74±0.45. The BHT – before pranayama showed a value of 38.34 ±4.34 and after pranayama, it showed a value of 56.62±9.01. For all the parameters, a P value of <0.001 was considered as statistically significant.
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant increase in all the above lung parameters in the regular yoga practitioners. Pranayama is a type of yogic breathing exercise. This resultant effect of pranayama can be used as a lung strengthening tool to treat many lung diseases like asthma, allergic bronchitis, post pneumonia and tuberculosis recoveries, and many occupational diseases.