Effects of Yoga on Pulmonary Parameters, Posture, Body Awareness and Quality of Life Among Chronic Smokers

Effects of Pranayam (Voluntary Regulated Breathing) and Yogasana (Yoga Postures) on Posture, Pulmonary Parameters, Spine Flexibility, Body Awareness and Quality of Life Among Chronic Smokers

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of practicing pranayam (voluntary regulated breathing) and yogasana (standing poses of yoga) with subject education on vital capacity, respiratory muscle strength, spinal flexibility, body awareness, quality of life and nicotine dependence of smokers and non-smokers.

When initial assesments will be completed, volunteers will be assigned to one of two possible sequences by their nicotine dependency. Smokers group (SG) or control group (CG).

All volunteers will receive an exercise program with Asana and Pranayam practices with the duration of 4 weeks.

All subjects will be assessed in terms of functional capacity, pulmonary functions, thoracic spine range of motion, postural analysis, respiratory muscle strength, body awareness, quality of life and nicotine dependence at the baseline and at the end of the study. Data will be collected from all the subjects at baseline and at the end of the study (4 weeks) by the same physiotherapist who also will supervise the exercise sessions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Voluntary participation in research
• Young healthy subjects who were aged between 18-60 years with or without daily cigarette smoking habit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergic disorders or respiratory disorders
• History of a major surgery in the last 2 years
• Neurological diseases
• Cardiovascular diseases which are contraindicates exercise
• Fractures or orthopedic problems in upper or lower extremities
• Systemic rheumatical diseases(Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondilitis etc.)

Systemic diseases and respiratory disorders will be ruled out in the selected subjects by taking their detailed history and by their thorough clinical examination by the researcher.