title: Do 12-week yoga program influence respiratory function of elderly women?
abstract: Aging produces several respiratory limitations and reduces tolerance to physical efforts, sometimes leading to pulmonary diseases in the elderly. The literature draws attention to the possible benefits of Yoga practice among the elderly, presenting evidence for significant improvements in quality of life. It was hypothesized that yoga practice can improve respiratory function in the elderly. The effects of a yoga program on pulmonary volumes and respiratory muscle strength were verified in 36 elderly women divided into a yoga group [YG] (63.1 ± 13.3 years of age) and a control group (61.0 ± 6.9 years of age). Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP and MEP) were assessed by a manovacuometer and tidal volume (VT), vital capacity (VC) and minute ventilation (VE) were measured by a ventilometer. The program comprised 65 min sessions, 3 times/week during 12 weeks. The heart rate and respiratory rate decreased significantly in the YG (76-39 ± 8-03 vs. 74-61±10.26 bpm and 18.61 ± 3.15 vs. 16.72 ± 3.12 resp/min, respectively). In the YG, VT and VE increased significantly (0.55 ± 0.22 vs. 0.64 ± 0.2 ml and 9.19 ± 2.39 vs. 10.05 ± 2.11 ml, respectively), as well as VC (1.48 ± 0.45 vs. 2.03 ± 0.72 ml). Improvements were also found in MIP and MEP in the YG (62.17 ± 14.77 vs. 73.06 ± 20.16 cmH2O and 80.56 ± 23.94 vs. 86.39 ± 20.16 cmH2O, respectively). It was concluded that a 12-week yoga program significantly improves pulmonary function of aged women.
authors.affiliation: University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lídia Aguiar
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helton Fabrício
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Garay
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. ; Research Centre for Sport, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Victor Machado
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. ; Research Centre for Sport, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal. ; Fire Brigade of Minas Gerais, 5th Battalion Fire Military Fire Brigade of the State of Minas Gerais, New Horizons Program, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Aidar
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. ; Research Centre for Sport, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bodas
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. ; Research Centre for Sport, Health and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno Domingos
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.affiliation: University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Jacó
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
keywords: elderly; respiratory strength; respiratory volumes; women; yoga