Yoga can be included as a support therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, a study published in the latest issue of Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine has said.
The researchers of the study came to the conclusion following an encouraging results of the Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) implemented for the management of dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing) and fatigue on coal miners with the COPD in Rampur Colliery in Odisha.
Eighty-one coal miners in the age group of 36-60 years suffering from the COPD had participated in the study where they received an IAYT module that included asanas, loosening exercises, breathing practices,pranayama, cyclic meditation, yogic counseling and lectures daily for 12 weeks.
Researchers of the study were Rajashree Ranjita, Alex Hankey, HR Nagendra, Soubhagylaxmi Mohanty from the Division of Yoga and life Science, Swami Vivekananda Yoga University, S-VYASA, Bengaluru in Karnataka.
They found that IAYT benefitted the participants as their dyspnea and fatigue was reduced. The participants reported improving functional performance and peripheral capillary. Encouraged with the results, the researchers have recommended that yoga can be included as an adjunct to conventional therapy for pulmonary rehabilitation programs for the COPD patients.
Evidence has shown that coal miners suffer increased risk of coal mine dust lung disease including COPD as a respiratory hazard of coal mining. "Cumulative exposure to coal dust is associated with increased risk of airway limitation resulting in dyspnea and fatigue on exertion limiting physical activity, thus adversely affecting their daily living and quality of life," the study noted.
IAYT aimed to give a holistic treatment correcting imbalances at physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual levels using various components developed by the researchers. The therapy delivered results as, for the majority of patients, the intensity of dyspnea and fatigue decreased after the yoga intervention; they were also able to walk further in the stipulated 6 min time, the researchers said.
The study’s promising results — reduced dyspnea and fatigue and improved functional exercise capacity in COPD patients — indicate the value of using yoga in programs of pulmonary rehabilitation as an adjunct to conventional care.
More rigorously designed, larger scale research with longer follow-up should be conducted, particularly as that would also expand yoga's evidence base, said the experts.