Efficacy and Tolerability of Yoga Breathing in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A PILOT STUDY

PURPOSE Yoga-derived breathing has been reported to improve gas exchange in patients with chronic heart failure and in participants exposed to high-altitude hypoxia. We investigated the tolerability and effect of yoga breathing on ventilatory pattern and oxygenation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS Patients with COPD (N = 11, 3 women) without previous yoga practice and taking only short-acting β2-adrenergic blocking drugs were enrolled. Ventilatory pattern and oxygen saturation were monitored by means of inductive plethysmography during 30-minute spontaneous breathing at rest (sb) and during a 30-minute yoga lesson (y). During the yoga lesson, the patients were requested to mobilize in sequence the diaphragm, lower chest, and upper chest adopting a slower and deeper breathing. We evaluated oxygen saturation (SaO2%), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (E), respiratory rate (i>f), inspiratory time, total breath time, fractional inspiratory time, an index of thoracoabdominal coordination, and an index of rapid shallow breathing. Changes in dyspnea during the yoga lesson were assessed with the Borg scale. RESULTS During the yoga lesson, data showed the adoption of a deeper and slower breathing pattern (VTsb L 0.54[0.04], VTy L 0.74[0.08], P = .01; i>fsb 20.8[1.3], i>fy 13.8[0.2], P = .001) and a significant improvement in SaO2% with no change in E (SaO2%sb 91.5%[1.13], SaO2%y 93.5%[0.99], P = .02; Esb L/min 11.2[1.1], Ey L/min 10.2[0.9]). All the participants reported to be comfortable during the yoga lesson, with no increase in dyspnea index. CONCLUSION We conclude that short-term training in yoga is well tolerated and induces favorable respiratory changes in patients with COPD.

[1]  J. Hughes.  Review Series: Lung function made easy: Assessing gas exchange , 2007 .

[2]  V. Parreira,et al.  Breathing pattern, thoracoabdominal motion and muscular activity during three breathing exercises. , 2007, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas.

[3]  M. Nield,et al.  Efficacy of Pursed-Lips Breathing: A BREATHING PATTERN RETRAINING STRATEGY FOR DYSPNEA REDUCTION , 2007, Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention.

[4]  Richard Casaburi,et al.  Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Joint ACCP/AACVPR Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. , 2007, Chest.

[5]  L. Arcaini,et al.  Reduced hypoxic ventilatory response with preserved blood oxygenation in yoga trainees and Himalayan Buddhist monks at altitude: evidence of a different adaptive strategy? , 2007, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[6]  J. Hankinson,et al.  Interpretative strategies for lung function tests , 2005, European Respiratory Journal.

[7]  K. Bloch,et al.  Monitoring of ventilation during exercise by a portable respiratory inductive plethysmograph. , 2005, Chest.

[8]  Abbas F Jawad,et al.  Respiratory inductance plethysmography in healthy 3- to 5-year-old children. , 2003, Chest.

[9]  G Scano,et al.  Breathing retraining and exercise conditioning in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a physiological approach. , 2003, Respiratory medicine.

[10]  Yoshimi Matsuo,et al.  Efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of the literature. , 2002, Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

[11]  ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. , 2002, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[12]  D L Sherrill,et al.  Predictors of oxygen desaturation during submaximal exercise in 8,000 patients. , 2001, Chest.

[13]  L. Bernardi,et al.  Effect of breathing rate on oxygen saturation and exercise performance in chronic heart failure , 1998, The Lancet.