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The effect of pranayama a controlled breathing practice, on exercise tests was studied in athletes in two phases; sub-maximal and maximal exercise tests. At the end of phase I (one year) both the groups (control and experimental) achieved significantly higher work rate and reduction in oxygen consumption per unit work. There was a significant reduction in blood lactate and an increase in P/L ratio in the experimental group, at rest. At the end of phase II (two years), the oxygen consumption per unit work was found to be significantly reduced and the work rate significantly increased in the experimental group. Blood lactate decreased significantly at rest in the experimental group only. Pyruvate and pyruvate-lactate ratio increased significantly in both the groups after exercise and at rest in the experimental group. The results in both phases showed that the subjects who practised pranayama could achieve higher work rates with reduced oxygen consumption per unit work and without increase in blood lactate levels. The blood lactate levels were significantly low at rest.
Twelve normal healthy volunteers (6 males and 6 females) undergoing yoga training for 90 days were studied for the effect of yoga on exercise tolerance. Their ages ranged from 18 to 28 years. The volunteers were taught only Pranayama for the first 20 days and later on yogic asanas were added. Sub-maximal exercise tolerance test was done on a motorized treadmill by using Balke's modified protocol, initially, after 20 days (Phase-I) and after 90 days of yoga training (Phase-II). Pyruvate and lactate in venous blood and blood gases in capillary blood were estimated immediately before and after the exercise. Minute ventilation and oxygen consumption were estimated before and during the test. Post exercise blood lactate was elevated significantly during initial and Phase-I, but not in Phase-II. There was significant reduction of minute ventilation and oxygen consumption only in males in Phase-I and II at the time when the volunteers reached their 80% of the predicted heart rate. Female volunteers were able to go to higher loads of exercise in Phase-I and II.
The short-term effects of 4 weeks of intensive yoga practice on physiological responses in six healthy adult female volunteers were measured using the maximal exercise treadmill test. Yoga practice involved daily morning and evening sessions of 90 minutes each. Pre- and post-yoga exercise performance was compared. Maximal work output (Wmax) for the group increased by 21%, with a significantly reduced level of oxygen consumption per unit work but without a concomitant significant change in heart rate. After intensive yoga training, at 154 Wmin(-1) (corresponding to Wmax of the pre-yoga maximal exercise test) participants could exercise more comfortably, with a significantly lower heart rate (p < 0.05), reduced minute ventilation (p < 0.05), reduced oxygen consumption per unit work (p < 0.05), and a significantly lower respiratory quotient (p < 0.05). The implications for the effect of intensive yoga on cardiorespiratory efficiency are discussed, with the suggestion that yoga has some transparently different quantifiable physiological effects to other exercises.
OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to evaluate lung functions and develop prediction equations in Indian boys. SUBJECTS: 1555 normal healthy schoolboys from Hyderabad city who were in the age group of 5 to 15 years were selected for the present study. DESIGN: The anthropometric parameters such as height, sitting height, weight, and chest circumference were measured and body surface area (BSA) and percent body fat (% Fat) were derived. The lung functions studied were FEV1, FVC, FEV1% and PEFR. RESULTS: The height, sitting height, weight, BSA, chest circumference, body fat as well as FEV1, FVC, FEV1 % and PEFR were comparable with Indian boys. The height for age, weight for age and weight for height were found to be lower than 50th percentile of NCHS standards in the subjects studied. Similarly the lung function values of the study population were found to be lower than the values of corresponding western population. CONCLUSION: Regression equations were derived to predict FEV1, FVC and PEFR using physical characteristics. Height, chest circumference and fat free mass were the best predictors for FEV1, FVC, and PEFR. Age, height, sitting height, weight, chest circumference and fat free mass showed significant association with lung functions.