EFEECT OF PRANAYAMA (YOGA) ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST OF YOUNG HEALTHY STUDENTS

Abstract

Several studies had been undertaken to prove the role of pranayama (yoga) for the improvement of pulmonary functions in various disease conditions as well as in healthy individuals. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of pranayama on pulmonary function test in 75 medical students of both sexes (50males, 25 females) ranging in age from 18 to25 years. All the participants were given training for 15 days by certified trained yoga teacher and after that they were allowed to practice the pranayama for 30 minutes everyday for the duration of three months. Spirometry was done before and after completion of three months pranayama practice. The results were analyzed by ‘paired t test’. There were significant improvement in tidal volume (p<.0001), vital capacity (VC) p<.0001, Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) p<.001, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) p<.001, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) p<.001, forced vital capacity (FVC), p<.005, forced mid expiratory flow in 0.25–0.75 seconds (FEF25- 75) p<0.0001. The present study indicates that pranayama has positive physiological benefits on respiratory system as evidenced by improvement of pulmonary function.