International J.

of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146

Original article:
Impact of short term yogic practice over ventilatory functions in healthy individuals
*Dr.B.V.Surendra, **Dr.Santosh V.Chidri

*Assistant Professor, Physiology Dept., Viswabharathi Medical College, RT Nagar, Penchikalapadu, Kurnool, India
**Assistant Professor, Physiology Dept. , KAMS & RC, L.B.Nagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: email: surendra_bv@yahoo.co.in

Abstract:
Introduction: Yoga aims through its practices to liberate a human being form the conflicts of duality (body-mind) and from the
influences of the Gunas – the qualities of universal energy that are present in every human being l . Long term practice of Yoga
relieves respiratory ailments like Bronchial Asthma; chronic Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, and Ventilatory functions are much
improved in them. With this background in mind present work was planned to study Impact of short term yogic practice over
ventilatory functions in healthy individuals.
Material and methods: 30 subjects in the age group of 25-35 years, of either sex were included in the study. Those
subjects who had voluntarily enrolled for this program in the age group of 25-35 years were included. The ventilatory
functions were measured by using Medspiror.
Observations and results: The mean FVC before doing the yoga was 2.5641litres and after doing the yoga the FVC was
3.0857 liters. This indicates significant increase in the FVC and it was found to be statistically significant. The mean FEV1 before
doing the yoga was 2.2800 liters and after doing yoga the FEV1 was 2.8037 liters. This indicates significant increase in the FEV1
and found to be statistically significant. The mean FEF25-75% before doing the yoga was 3.0900l/s and after doing yoga the FEF25-
75% was 3.9740l/s. this indicates significant increase in the FEF25-75% and found to be statistically significant. The mean PEFR
before doing the yoga was 5.7937l/s and after doing yoga the PEFR was 6.6690l/s. This indicates significant increase in the
PEFR and found to be statistically significant. The mean MVV before doing the yoga was 102.70l/m and after doing the yoga the
MVV was 115.37l/m. This indicates significant increase in the MVV and found to be statistically significant
Conclusion: From present study we may conclude positive beneficiary effects over ventilatory functions from regular yogic
activities.
Keywords: Force vital capacity, MVV, Pranayama.

Introduction: Yoga aims through its practices to
liberate a human being form the conflicts of duality
(body-mind) and from the influences of the Gunas –
the qualities of universal energy that are present in
every human being.1 Medical science tries to achieve
an optimum physical and mental health of the
individual and mental health of the individual
through preventive, curative and pro motive means.
However, for a long time medical professionals have
laid much emphasis on the curative aspect and only
relatively recently the preventive aspect is also being
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emphasized where as in yogic practice the stress is
mainly on the pro motive aspect, although some
yogic methods are prescribed for curative purposes as
well. 2 It is now almost a proved fact based on various
investigations that a prolonged continuous yogic
practice relieve respiratory ailments like Bronchial
Asthma, chronic Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, and
Ventilatory functions are much improved in them.
The present studies were undertaken with the
objective to ascertain whether a short course of yogic
practices has any influence on ventilatory functions
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International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146

of a normal adult individual. The conclusive who did not understand Telugu, questionnaire
information of improvement of ventilatory functions designed in English was used.
yogic practices by short term yogic practices will be Examination: The following parameters are studi-
implied on respiratory disease patients in the form of ed before and after doing the yoga
yogic therapy and these studies will be carried out on VENTILATORY FUNCTION TESTS:
patients. • FVC
Material and methods: The present study was • FEV1
carried out at “yoga vignana Kendra” kukatpally, • FEF25-75%
Hyderabad. The training of yoga was given by a • PEFR
yoga teacher. Each enrolled subject was followed • MVV
for a period 3 months during the intervention Following pranayama and yogasanas were taught
programme. The study was approved by and practiced for period of 1 hour daily for three
Institutional ethical committee. The sample size months.. Pranayama :
was estimated by expert statistician with the help It consisted of
of sample size calculator. • CHINMAY-MUDRA PRANAYAMA
30 subjects in the age group of 25-35 years, of • AUDI-MUDRACHIN-MUDRA
either sex were included in the study. Those PRANAYAMA
subjects who had voluntarily enrolled for this
• PRANAYAMA
programme during study from 8th march to 8th
• MAHAT (BHASTRIKA) PRANAYAMA
June 2008 in the age group of 25-35 years were
• SHITALI PRANAYAMA
included.
• ANULOMA VILLOMA PRANAYAMA
Criteria for exclusion: Subjects on antioxidant
• KAPALBHTI PRANAYAMA
drugs, Subjects already doing any type of yoga or
• SHITKARI PRANAYAMA
meditation. Subjects performing exercise,
• UJJAI PRANAYAMA
Subjects with addictions (smoking, tobacco
• BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA: All these
chewing, and alcohol intake), hypertension,
pranayamas were taught after compl-
diabetes mellitus, unstable angina pectoris, left
etion of previous Pranayama with
ventricular failure, cardiomegaly, ventricular
relaxations of 30 sec. in between two of
arrhythmia, respiratory disorder or any other
pranayamas. Each person was trained to do in
systemic diseases were excluded. Subjects were
proper way. All the subjects practiced
informed regarding the nature and scope of the
these pranayamas and yogasanas for 0ne
study and written consent was obtained from
and half hour on each day for three
them.
months
QUESTIONNAIRE: For collection information
FOLLOW-UP: (BEFORE AND AFTER):
self -administered questionnaire was used in
(Before active intervention):- On 2nd day Ventilatory
Telugu. Questionnaire was provided to study
function tests were done.(Three months after
subjects and they filled in the responses. For those
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International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146

active intervention): Ventilatory function tests
were done.
STUDY OF VENTILATORY FUNCTION
TESTS:
Medspiror is used in conjunction with a windows
based computer. It is used to determine the dynamic
lung functions by measuring the
• FORCED VITAL CAPACITY
• SLOW VITAL CAPACITY
• MAXIMUM VOLUNTARY
VENTILATION
Medspiror is connected to a computer through a
USB interface cable. The software given along with
the system is used to display the spirometry
parameters, the device parameters, information
TABLE NO 1: VENTILATORY FUNCTION TESTS [BEFORE YOGA]
messages and user guide messages. A printer
attached to the computer can be used to obtain a
hard-copy record of the maneuver and the related
parameter values.
SPIROMETRY TEST: Only two parameters are
required to accumulate all test data FVC and MVV.
The Computer stores and calculates all the necessary
flow and volume data.
Based on the patient’s age, sex, height and weight
data, and the spirometer equation selected, numerical
values of the parameters are predicted. The actual
values obtained during a maneuver are listed under %
PRED as a percentage of the predicted values. The
following parameters are studied using the spirometer
Observations and Results:

SL.NO LUNG PARAMETER MEAN±SD N

1 FVC 3.085L±
±0.680 30

2 FEV1 2.803L±
±0.578 30

3 FEF25-75% 3.974L±
±0.845 30

4 PEFR 6.669L±
±2.052 30

5 MVV 115.37L±
±25.21 30

International J of Healthcare and Biomedical Research

Is now with

IC Value 4.69
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International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146

TABLE NO 2: VENTILATORY FUNCTION TESTS [AFTER YOGA]

SL.NO LUNG PARAMETER MEAN±

±SD N

1
FVC 2.564L±
±0.567 30
2
FEV1 2.280L±
±0.466 30
3
FEF25-75% 3.09L±
±0.734 30
4
PEFR 5.793L±
±1.912 30
5
MVV 102.7L±
±24.51 30

TABLE NO 3: COMPARSION OF VENTILATORY FUNCTION TESTS BEFORE YOGA AND AFTER

YOGA

MEAN±
±SD
SLNO PARAMETER AFTER YOGA N P VALUE

BEFORE YOGA

1 3.085L±
±0.085 30 <0.001 S
FVC 2.564L±
±0.567

2 2.803L±
±0.578 30 <0.001 S
FEV1 2.280L±
±0.466

3 3.974L±
±0.845 30 <0.001 S
FEF25-75% 3.090L±
±0.734

4 6.669L±
±2.052 30 <0.001 S
PEFR 5.793L±
±1.191

5 115.37L±
±25.2 30 <0.001 S
MVV 102.7L±
±24.51

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International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146

DISCUSSION: increase in the PEFR and found to be

The present study showed a significant increase in all statistically significant
the parameters of Ventilatory Function Tests at the • The mean MVV before doing the yoga was
end of 3 months of Yogic practice. 102.70l/m and after doing the yoga the
• The mean FVC before doing the yoga was MVV was 115.37l/m. This indicates
2.5641litres and after doing the yoga the significant increase in the MVV and found
FVC was 3.0857 liters. This indicates to be statistically significant
significant increase in the FVC and it was The present study is in agreement with the following
found to be statistically significant. studies:
• The mean FEV1 before doing the yoga was
Makwana et al [1988] reported
2.2800 liters and after doing yoga the FEV1 significant increase in the
was 2.8037 liters. This indicates significant ventilatory functions following 10
increase in the FEV1 and found to be wks of yogic training .3
statistically significant
Joshi et al [1992] reported
• The mean FEF25-75% before doing the yoga significant increase in the
was 3.0900l/s and after doing yoga the ventilatory functions following 6
FEF25-75% was 3.9740l/s. this indicates wks of yogic training .4
significant increase in the FEF25-75% and Hence it can be inferred that Pranayama and asanas
found to be statistically significant play important role in increasing the ventilatory
• The mean PEFR before doing the yoga was functions. The improvement in the forced vital
5.7937l/s and after doing yoga the PEFR capacity is due in part to increased development of
was 6.6690l/s. This indicates significant respiratory musculature incidental to regular practice
of yoga. In yogic breathing exercises [as in
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International J. of Healthcare and Biomedical Research, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 , April 2014 , Pages 140-146
kapalabathi] short powerful strokes of exhalation in
quick succession with contraction of abdominal and
diaphragm muscles trains the subject to make full use
of diaphragm and abdominal muscles in breathing. It
also helps in removal of secretions from bronchial
tree, clearing up respiratory passages and the alveoli
making room for more air. Pranayama on the other
hand is characterized by slow and deep inhalation
and exhalation. The stress is on more prolonged
expiration and efficient use of abdominal and
diaphragm muscles. This act trains the respiratory
apparatus to get emptied and fill air completely and
efficiently which is recorded in terms of increased
FVC.
In other types of yogic breathing the negative
pressure created in the abdomen and thoracic
capacity raises the diaphragm at an increased level
than its normal excursion. This further helps in
efficient movement of diaphragm leading to
improvement in vital capacity. Further the removal of
undue tension from the skeletal muscles in yogasanas
helps the thorax to relax between than before. All
these practices seem to increase expiratory reserve
volume thereby increase in the vital capacity. The
increase in the FEV1 and PEFR might be due to
significant increase in the forced vital capacity. The
increase in the MVV might be due to improvement in
respiratory mechanism and strength of muscles.
There occurs strengthening of respiratory
musculature incidental to regular practice of
pranayamic breathing during which the lungs and
References:
1. James A Raub. Psychophysiologic. Effects of Hatha yoga on musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary
function. A Literature Review. Journal of Alternative and complementary medicine Dec 2002, vol 8, no 6;
797-812
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chest inflate and deflate to fullest possible extent and
muscles are made to work to maximal extent. Similar
ventilatory training even in elderly subjects (60-75)
has shown to improve lung volumes and capacities. 5
The other possible mechanism for improved
pulmonary function test might be due to.
• Lung inflation near to total lung capacity is a
major physiological stimulus for the release
of lung surfactant 6 and prostaglandins into
alveolar spaces 7 which increase compliance
and decrease bronchial smooth muscle tone.
• Cleansing procedures clean the infective
nasal secretions
• Yoga with its calming effects on the mind
can reduce the emotional stress there by
withdrawing the bronchial constrictor effect.
Newer technologies in medical science is highly
useful in measuring spiromerty values.8 Pranayama
includes various exercises like Bhastrika, kapalabathi
etc, which involve forceful inspiration to total lung
capacity and forceful expiration to residual volume
and all maneuver are done through nostrils, which
offer resistance by means of decreased cross sectional
area and turbulence. Breathing through one nostril in
Anuloma-viloma Pranayama further increases the
resistance. The effects of Resistance training on
smooth muscle are well documented. 9
Conclusion: From present study we may conclude
positive beneficiary effects over ventilatory functions
from short term yoga practice.
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2. Yadav RK, Das s. Effect of yogic practice on pulmonary functions in young females. Indian Journal of
Physiology and Pharmacology 2001; 45(4): 493-496
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5. Belman MJ. Gaesser GA. Ventilatory muscle training in the elderly. Journal of Applied Physiology
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6. Hildebran J, Georke J, Clements JA. Surfactant release in exercised rat lungs stimulated by air inflation.
JAPP1981;51: 905-910
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and Scope. Indian Journal of Basic & Applied Medical Research; December 2011: Issue-1, Vol.-1, P. 8-12
9. Biechel TR, ed. Essentials of strength and conditioning. Human kinetics. Champaign, IL;1994: 22(1) 56-61

Date of submission: 18 January 2014, Date of provisional acceptance: 14 Feb 2013

Date of Final acceptance: 22 March 2014 Date of Publication: 07 April 2014

Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: Nil

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