Effect of duration of yoga training on pulmonary function tests and respiratory pressures in sedentary healthy adult population of Nagpur

Objective: The aim of the current study was to study the minimum duration of yoga training required to induce favorable changes in pulmonary functions in normal healthy sedentary adults. Background: Effect of Yoga training on Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) is well established. It is matter of interest at what point beneficial effects of Yoga starts. Method: It was prospective observational study. 60 healthy, sedentary adults (32 males and 28 females) in the age group of 20 to 45 years were selected. They were given yoga training for 45 minutes, five days a week for 8 weeks. The PFTs i.e. Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV), Forced Expiratory Volume at the end of one second (FEV1), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Respiratory Pressures i.e. Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP) were measured at zero week, at 4 th week and at 8 th week. The data was statistically analyzed by One-way Repeated measure ANOVA test. Result: Our study showed marginal improvement in above parameters at the end of 4 weeks but at the end of 8 weeks the improvement was statistically significant. Conclusion: Yoga training of 8 weeks is required for significant improvement in PFTs and respiratory pressures healthy sedentary adults.