Enhancing Pulmonary Function in Children with a 4-week Yoga Exercise Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Yoga is a widely recognized form of aerobic exercise that has gained significant popularity in recent years, with well-documented positive effects on respiratory functions. However, there is a limited body of research investigating the impact of yoga performed for various durations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of a 4-week hatha yoga (HY) exercise program with different durations (60 min and 30 min) on pulmonary function in sedentary young individuals.

A total of 52 sedentary individuals aged 15-16 years were randomly divided into three groups: 60 min HY group (60 min HY, n = 21), 30 min HY group (30 min HY, n = 15), and control group (CG, n = 16). The 60 mHY and 30 mHY groups underwent a yoga exercise protocol twice a week for 4 weeks, while the participants in the CG were instructed on the physical activity guidelines but did not perform yoga exercises. Pulmonary function profile was assessed using a spirometer device.

The forced vital capacity of the groups in the 60 mHY group increased after 4 weeks compared to the 30 mHY and CG groups (P = 0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.10- -0.07). The forced expiratory volume in one second (P < 0.001, 95% CI = -0.03-0.54) improved in the 60 mHY group. Peak expiratory flow was least improved in the CG (P = 0.004, 95% CI =-1.23 to - 0.32). Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF25/75) of vital capacity changed the most at 60 mHY (P = 0.004, 95% CI=-1.72 to - 0.49). The forced expiratory time varied with time but did not differ across the groups.

A 4-week HY program, particularly with 60-min sessions, significantly improved pulmonary function in sedentary young participants. The findings suggest that the longer the duration of HY, the greater the effects on the pulmonary system, and therefore, we suggest that the effects of yoga programs on different populations should be investigated.