Yoga Medical News Daily

Yoga breathing exercises improve pulmonary function in bronchial asthma patients

The role of yoga breathing exercises, as an adjunct treatment for bronchial asthma is well recognized. In this study120 asthma patients were randomized into a yoga training group and a control group.  

Pulmonary function tests were performed on all the patients at the beginning of the study, after 4 weeks and then after 8 weeks. The subjects in the yoga group showed statistically significant improvements as compared to the non-yoga group. 

The research results suggest that "yoga breathing exercises used adjunctively with standard pharmacological treatment significantly improves pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma."  Abstract: PubMed. Article: "A study of the effect of yoga training on pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma," by Sodhi C, Singh S, Dandona PK., Department of Physiology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology [2009 Apr-Jun;53(2):169-74]

The efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle modification programme based on yoga in the management of bronchial asthma: [the results of] a randomized controlled trial

BMC Pulmonary Medicine, (2009, 9:37). "METHODS: The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted on 57 adult subjects with mild or moderate bronchial asthma who were allocated randomly to either the yoga (intervention) group (n = 29) or the wait-listed control group (n = 28). The control group received only conventional care and the yoga group received an intervention based on yoga, in addition to the conventional care. The intervention consisted of 2-wk supervised training in lifestyle modification and stress management based on yoga followed by closely monitored continuation of the practices at home for 6-wk." . . . "CONCLUSION: The present RCT has demonstrated that adding the mind-body approach of yoga to the predominantly physical approach of conventional care results in measurable improvement in subjective as well as objective outcomes in bronchial asthma. The trial supports the efficacy of yoga in the management of bronchial asthma. However, the preliminary efforts made towards working out the mechanism of action of the intervention have not thrown much light on how yoga works in bronchial asthma."  Abstract: PubMed. Abstract and full text of article: BMC Pulmonary Medicine.