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Yoga exercise increases chest wall expansion and lung volumes in young healthy Thais
Author(s) -
Chanavirut Raoyrin,
Khaidjapho Kwuanjai,
Jaree Piyanat,
Pongnaratorn Panicha
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1257-b
Subject(s) - thais , medicine , lung , physical therapy , cardiology , demography , sociology
Yoga has been reported to improve respiratory function in healthy and respiratory diseases. This study compared the effect of Yoga on chest wall expansion and lung volumes in young healthy Thais. Five positions of Hatha Yoga were used in the present study because of their dominant effects on chest wall function. Fifty‐eight healthy young volunteers (20.1±0.6 years) were randomly allocated into Yoga (n=29) and control (n=29). The Yoga practice was 20 min/session and 3 sessions/week for 6 weeks. The matching control subjects were designed to come to the Yoga practice unit and stayed free without Yoga exercise in a similar period. Before and after training lung expansion was measured by the tape at three levels: upper (sternal angle), middle (rib 5), and lower (rib 8). Lung volumes (tidal volume, FEV 1 , FEV 25–75% , and FVC) were measured by spirometer. Compared to pre‐training, Yoga exercise significantly increased (p<0.05) chest wall expansion in all levels (upper 3.2±0.1 versus 4.4±0.1 cm, middle 5.0±0.1 versus 5.9±0.1 cm, lower 5.9±0.2 versus 6.8±0.1 cm), FEV 1 (2.5±0.1 versus 2.8±0.1 L), FEV 25–75% (4.1±0.2 versus 4.8±0.2 L/sec), and FVC (2.5±0.1 versus 2.8±0.1 L). However, tidal volume was not altered by Yoga (0.53±0.03 versus 0.55±0.03 L). The control subjects did not show any change in every parameter. The present data suggest that short‐term Yoga exercise improve respiratory breathing capacity by increasing chest wall expansion and forced expiratory lung volumes. Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, supported this research.