Effect of Selected Pranayama Practice on Pulmonary Function Tests In Adult Volunteers: A Prospective Interventional Study
Abstract
Background: Pranayama is an ancient breathing technique that originates from yogic practices in India. It’s a panacea to the modern stress world. Pranayama is the art of controlling the life force of breath. It rejuvenates the body, achieved through the art of breathing which controls our breath with different styles and lengths and has a direct bearing on the basal metabolic rate and the span of longevity. Pranayama is acknowledged to improve lung function and cardiac health. Objectives: The present study evaluates the effect of 10 days and 30 days of pranayama practice on pulmonary functions in adult volunteers.
Methods: 40 healthy male volunteers of the age group between 18 – 30 were included in this study. The participants practiced pranayama like pranava, nadisuddhi,kapalabhati, bhastrika, and savitri pranayama,1 hour daily, for 6 days per week, for a total of 30 days of duration. Pulmonary function tests were recorded before the practice of pranayama and after 10 days of practice and followed after 30 days of pranayama practice for the same group of individuals.
Results: Pulmonary function parameters were gradually increased after 10 days of practice and 30 days of practice. Among the pulmonary parameters, the Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1st second (FEV1), and Maximum ventilation volume (MVV) and also the FEVI/FVC% were found to be statistically significant (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: In this study, the adult volunteers practiced selected pranayama techniques. The practice of pranayama increased the pulmonary function parameters like FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MVV for a minimum period of 10 days to 30 days. Hence pranayama may be adopted as the best lifestyle modification to prevent lung diseases and to improve lung function.
References
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Kuppusamy M, Dilara K, Ravishankar P, Julius A. Ef-fect of BhrāmarīPrāṇāyāma Practice on Pulmonary Func-tion in Healthy Adolescents: A Randomized Control Study. Anc Sci Life. 2017 Apr-Jun;36(4):196-99.
Baljinder SB. Effect of anulomvilom and bhastrika pranayama on the vital capacity and maximal ventilatory volume. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Management. 2010 Jul 31;1(1):11-5.
Makwana K, Khirwadkar N, Gupta HC. Effect of short-term yoga practice on ventilatory function tests. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 1988 Jul 1;32(3):202-8
Saoji AA, Raghavendra BR, Manjunath NK. Effects of yogic breath regulation: A narrative review of scientific evidence. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2019 Jan-Mar;10(1):50-8.
Rivero-Yeverino D. Spirometry: basic concepts Espi-rometría: conceptosbásicos. Rev Alerg Mex. 2019;66(1):76-84.
Dinesh T, Gaur GS, Sharma VK, Madanmohan T, Kumar KH, Bhavanani AB. Comparative effect of 12 weeks of slow and fast pranayama training on pulmonary function in young, healthy volunteers: A randomized controlled trial Int J Yoga. 2015;8(1):22- 6.
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Sivapriya D, Malani S, Thirumeni S. Effect of nadishodhana pranayama on respiratory parameters in school students. Recent Research in Science and Technology. 2010 Dec 15;2(11) .
Sivakumar G, Prabhu K, Baliga R, Pai MK, ManjunathaS. Acute effects of deep breathing for a short duration (2-10 minutes) on pulmonary functions in healthy young volunteers. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 2011 Apr 1;55(2):154-9.
Yadav A, Savita S, Singh KP. Role of the pranayama breathing exercises in the rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients. Indian J of Traditional Knowledge. 2009; 3:455-508.
Upadhyay KD, Malhotra V, Sarkar D, Prajapati R. Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercises on the cardio-respiratory functions. Nepal Medical Coll J 2008; 10(1): 25-27.
Santaella DF, Devesa CR, Rojo MR, Amato MB, Drager LF, Casali KR, Montano N, Lorenzi-Filho G. Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2011 May 24;1(1):e000085 .
Mandanmohan, Jatiya L, Udupa K, Bhavanani AB. Effect of yoga training on the handgrip, respiratory pressures, and pulmonary function. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 2003 Oct;47(4):387-92. PMID: 15266949.
Joshi LN, Joshi VD. Effect of forced breathing on the ventilatory functions of the lung. J Postgrad Med.1998; 44(3); 67-69.
Bhargava MR, Gogate MG, Mascarenhas. A study of BHT and its variations following Pranayamic exercises. The Clinician. 1982; 43-46.
Jerath R, Edry J, Barnes V, Jerath V. Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: Neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that can explain how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical hypo. 2008; 67(3):56.
Streeter CC, Gerbarg PL, Saper RB, Ciraulo DA, Brown RP. Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyricacid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Med Hypotheses. 2012 May; 78(5):571-579. PMID: 22365651 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.021
Kuppusamy M, Dilara K, Ravishankar P, Julius A. Ef-fect of BhrāmarīPrāṇāyāma Practice on Pulmonary Func-tion in Healthy Adolescents: A Randomized Control Study. Anc Sci Life. 2017 Apr-Jun;36(4):196-99.
Baljinder SB. Effect of anulomvilom and bhastrika pranayama on the vital capacity and maximal ventilatory volume. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Management. 2010 Jul 31;1(1):11-5.
Makwana K, Khirwadkar N, Gupta HC. Effect of short-term yoga practice on ventilatory function tests. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 1988 Jul 1;32(3):202-8
Saoji AA, Raghavendra BR, Manjunath NK. Effects of yogic breath regulation: A narrative review of scientific evidence. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2019 Jan-Mar;10(1):50-8.
Rivero-Yeverino D. Spirometry: basic concepts Espi-rometría: conceptosbásicos. Rev Alerg Mex. 2019;66(1):76-84.
Dinesh T, Gaur GS, Sharma VK, Madanmohan T, Kumar KH, Bhavanani AB. Comparative effect of 12 weeks of slow and fast pranayama training on pulmonary function in young, healthy volunteers: A randomized controlled trial Int J Yoga. 2015;8(1):22- 6.
Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, Barjaktarevic IZ, Cooper BG, Hall GL, et al. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Oct 15;200(8):e70–88.
Sivapriya D, Malani S, Thirumeni S. Effect of nadishodhana pranayama on respiratory parameters in school students. Recent Research in Science and Technology. 2010 Dec 15;2(11) .
Sivakumar G, Prabhu K, Baliga R, Pai MK, ManjunathaS. Acute effects of deep breathing for a short duration (2-10 minutes) on pulmonary functions in healthy young volunteers. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 2011 Apr 1;55(2):154-9.
Yadav A, Savita S, Singh KP. Role of the pranayama breathing exercises in the rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients. Indian J of Traditional Knowledge. 2009; 3:455-508.
Upadhyay KD, Malhotra V, Sarkar D, Prajapati R. Effects of alternate nostril breathing exercises on the cardio-respiratory functions. Nepal Medical Coll J 2008; 10(1): 25-27.
Santaella DF, Devesa CR, Rojo MR, Amato MB, Drager LF, Casali KR, Montano N, Lorenzi-Filho G. Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2011 May 24;1(1):e000085 .
Mandanmohan, Jatiya L, Udupa K, Bhavanani AB. Effect of yoga training on the handgrip, respiratory pressures, and pulmonary function. Indian J PhysiolPharmacol. 2003 Oct;47(4):387-92. PMID: 15266949.
Joshi LN, Joshi VD. Effect of forced breathing on the ventilatory functions of the lung. J Postgrad Med.1998; 44(3); 67-69.
Bhargava MR, Gogate MG, Mascarenhas. A study of BHT and its variations following Pranayamic exercises. The Clinician. 1982; 43-46.
Jerath R, Edry J, Barnes V, Jerath V. Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: Neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that can explain how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical hypo. 2008; 67(3):56.
