Celine D¹
Subharevathi K²
Chandini G³

¹Professor and Head,
²Assistant Professor,
³Post Graduate,
Department of Physiology
Chengalpattu Medical College,
Chengalpattu – 603 001, Tamilnadu,

Abstract

• Background: Respiratory efficiency is a long-term predictor of overall survival and can be used as a tool inevaluation of general health. Yoga practice has proved to have beneficial effect in prevention, control and rehabilitation in respiratory disorders. Various studies, have shown that regular practice of yoga causes significant improvement in the respiratory muscle strength and endurance, and also quality of health. Medical students joining have a stressful life style and most of them don’t do regular exercise. Hence, to sensitize and motivate medical students towards a healthy lifestyle, this study was pertinently designed to study the effects of 6 weeks yoga practice on the respiratory efficiency of medical students.
• Aim: To evaluate the effect of yoga training on Respiratory Muscle strength & endurance among healthy students.
• Methodology: Undergraduate first year students, were randomly selected, after obtaining written informed consent. Detailed historywas taken and clinical examinations were carried out to rule out any acute or chronic illness. The tests for assessing respiratory efficiency with static maneuvers like expiratory blast test, 40mmHg tests, BHT (breath holding time), and dynamic maneuver like PEFR, MVV (Maximal Voluntary Ventilation)were recorded. Yoga training was given for six weeks following which tests were repeated again. Parameters were analyzed using SPSS21.0 version.
• Results: Following yoga practice, BHT,PEFR,MVV,40mmHg test and Expiratory blast test values increased, showing improvement in respiratory efficiency.
• Conclusion: Practicing yoga, improves respiratory efficiency and in return will improve the quality of life.

Keywords: BHT, MVV, PEFR, respiratory efficiency