Abstract :
Objectives:
1. To study the effect of tai chi on lung function
2. To study effect of pranayama on lung function
3. To compare the effects of tai chi chuan and pranayama on lung function.
Methods: 60 healthy volunteers, males and females, aged 18-22 years were recruited for the study. Individuals were categorized into two groups by random allocation. Subjects who were doing any physical activity, practicing tai chi or pranayama, having preexisting history of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory disorders were excluded from the study.
Pre assessment included-Chest expansion, Lung volumes- Forced Expiratory Volume1 (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume1/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), HR and RR. Groups were trained to perform tai chi and pranayama for 6 weeks each. Post assessment was done after 6 weeks.
Results: On statistical analysis, a significant change was seen in Forced Expiratory Volume1(FEV1), Forced Expiratory Volume1/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), and Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), chest expansion at all 3 levels in both groups after 6 weeks of intervention. No significant change was seen in FVC in both groups. There was no statistical significance seen between the two groups for lung function.
Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that tai chi and pranayama can help in improving the lung function. As there is no statistical significance found between the two groups, both tai chi and pranayama seems to increase lung function effectively in young healthy individuals.
Keyword :
Tai chi chuan, Pranayama, Lung function