Randomized trial of yoga as a complementary therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective: The present prospective, randomized trial compared the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) with two separate programs (yoga and breath awareness), on lung capacities and bacteriological status in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methodology: A total of 1009 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were screened and 73 were alternately allocated, to yoga ( n = 36) or breath awareness ( n = 37) groups, with 48 patients completing the 2-month trial. Patients aged between 20 and 55 years, who were sputum-positive on three consecutive examinations, had no prior ATT, and no comorbidities or extrapulmonary tuberculosis were included. In addition to ATT, one group practised yoga ( n = 25) and the other practised breath awareness ( n = 23) for 6 h per week, each session being 60 min.