Open AccessYoga —An Alternative Form of Therapy in Patients with Blunt Chest Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s) -
Gunjiganvi Mallikarjun,
Mathur Purva,
Kumari Minu,
Madan Karan,
Kumar Atin,
Sagar Rajesh,
Sagar Sushma,
Gupta Amit,
Mishra Biplab,
Mir Altaf Hussain,
Meti Mohini,
Kumar Subodh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1432-2323
pISSN - 0364-2313
DOI - 10.1007/s00268-021-06057-9
Subject(s) - medicine , chest physiotherapy , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , quality of life (healthcare) , nursing
Background Yoga as alternative form of therapy has shown positive impact on pulmonary functions, exercise capacity, behavioral changes, and inflammation in non‐trauma patients. However, the efficacy of Yoga has not been studied in chest trauma patients. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted at level‐1 Trauma Centre. Isolated chest injury patients were randomized into either standard physiotherapy or Yogatherapy groups. Patients in physiotherapy group received conventional chest physiotherapy and Yogatherapy group received a set of Yogic exercises in addition to conventional chest physiotherapy. Primary outcome measure was changes in pulmonary function tests (PFT) at 4 weeks of discharge. Secondary outcomes were changes in quality of life (QoL), respiratory muscle strength and endurance, chest wall mobility, and levels of cytokines at 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using STATA v14.0. Results A total of 89 eligible patients were randomized to physiotherapy ( n = 46) and Yoga therapy ( n = 43) groups. Demographic characteristics were comparable in both the groups. There were statistically significant improvements in PFT in the Yogatherapy group compared with physiotherapy with an increase in Forced vital capacity ( p = 0.02) and Forced expiratory volume ( p = 0.01) at 4 weeks. In addition, there were significant improvement in physical component of QoL, respiratory muscle endurance ( p = 0.003) and axillary cirtometry ( p = 0.009) in the Yogatherapy group. However, no statistically significant difference in the trends of cytokine markers seen between the groups. Conclusion Yoga was found to be effective in improving pulmonary functions and QoL in patients with chest trauma. (Trial registered at ctri.nic.in/clinicaltrials/login.php, numberREF/2016/05/011,287).