title: Effect of pranayama and suryanamaskar on pulmonary functions in medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pranayama improved lung functions in numerous studies. Yoga involve isometric contraction and improves skeletal muscle strength. Yoga training improves the strength of expiratory as well as inspiratory muscles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study is planned to find the effect of pranayama on pulmonary functions in medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is conducted on 50 students doing lst year M.B.B.S. Consent form has been taken from them. They have been given yoga training 30 min daily for 2 mnth under the guidance of a trained yoga instructor. Vital capacity (VC), Tidal volume (TV), Expiratory Reserve volume (ERV), Breath holding time (BHT), 40 mm endurance, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) are measured before & after yoga training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VC has increased from 2972 ± 213.151 to 3372 ± 528.7722. TV has increased from 496 ± 84.06347 to 588 ± 150.8863. ERV also shows increase in values from 888 ± 183.303 to 1096 ± 386.7385. BHT also shows increase in values from 33 ± 5.773503 to 58.6 ± 12.78019. 40 mm endurance also shows increase in values from 30.8 ± 5.139715 to 53.52 ± 15.68736. PEFR also shows increase in value from 388.8 ± 15.36229 to 425.2 ± 38.74274.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a statistically significant increase in all the above mentioned pulmonary functions following yoga training. Yoga practice can be advocated to improve pulmonary functions in healthy individuals and hence to prevent respiratory diseases in future.
authors: Under Graduate, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & RI , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: P Shyam
authors: PS
authors: Karthik
authors: Professor & HOD, Department of Physiology, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & RI , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Chandrasekhar
authors: Tutor, Department of Physiology, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & RI , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: Kondam
authors: K
authors: Ambareesha
authors: Post Graduate, Department of Anaesthesia, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & RI , Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Nikhil
keywords: 40mm endurance; BHT; ERV; PEFR; Pranayama; Pulmonary functions; Surya namaskar; TV; VC
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Oct-Dec;49(4):469-74
references: 16579402
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992 Oct;36(4):229-33
references: 1291472
references: J Postgrad Med. 1998 Jul-Sep;44(3):67-9
references: 10703574
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001 Oct;45(4):493-6
references: 11883159
references: Med Hypotheses. 2006;67(3):566-71
references: 16624497
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992 Apr;36(2):105-8
references: 1506070
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1988 Jul-Sep;32(3):202-8
references: 3198241
references: Chest. 2004 May;125(5):1951-2
references: 15136413
references: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002 Jul;46(3):349-54
references: 12613400