EFFECT OF MODIFIED SLOW BREATHING EXERCISE ON PULMONARY FUNCTION IN HEALTHY, ADULT MALES-AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Different types of breathing exercise have varied effects on pulmonary function parameters in an individual. To study the effect of a modified Slow breathing exercise on pulmonary function parameters in adult Males.

Settings and Design: This was a randomized control, interventional study carried out at Advanced Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research (ACYTER), Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry.

Materials and Methods: Hundred healthy, male volunteers were recruited and randomized into control group, n=50 and Modified Slow breathing exercise(study), n=50. Modified Slow breathing exercise training was given to the study group for 30 minutes a day, 5 times/week for a total period of 12 weeks, under supervision of certified yoga trainers. Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced end expiratory volume at the end of 1 sec (FEV₁), FEV₁/FVC ratio, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), Forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF_25-75) were recorded at baseline and after 12 weeks. No intervention was given for control group. Statistical analysis was done using appropriate analytical methods by SPSS software ver.19.0.

Results: FVC, FEV₁, FVC/FEV₁, PEFR, FEF_25-75 decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the study group following 12 weeks of modified Anuloma Viloma pranayama. No significant change was observed in the control group.

Conclusion: Twelve weeks of modified Slow breathing exercise significantly improved the pulmonary function parameters. This indicates that our modified alternate nostril breathing exercise is equally effective in improving the pulmonary function parameters.