Pulmonary functions following yoga in a community dwelling geriatric population in India

Abstract

The usefulness of an ancient Indian intervention, Yoga to improve the pulmonary functions in a geriatric population was studied in a single blind, randomized controlled trial. 46 elderly inmates of a home lor the aged, belonging to both genders were stratified and randomly allocated to two groups, a Yoga group and a Wait-list Control group. The pulmonary functions were assessed using a computerized spirometer at baseline and after three and six months of their respective interventions in both groups. The yoga group was given a combination of practices including physical postures, voluntan'ly regulated breathing, meditation, relaxation techniques and lectures on philosophy and practice of Yoga, while the Wait-list Control group continued with their normal routine. The data were analyzed using Repealed Measures ANOVA and t-lest for paired data. The results suggested that there was a significant increase in the vital capacity of the yoga group, while there was a decrease in the vital capacity in the Wait-list Control group.