EFFECTS OF MODIFIED YOGA ON PULMONARY FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

F. Jain¹, A. Bhise¹, Y. Shula²

¹Government Spine Institute & Physiotherapy College, Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Department, Ahmedabad, India, ²government spine institute, physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, India

Background: Respiratory complication is one of the leading causes of mortality (47%) among individual with SCI despite advancement in patient’s care. The respiratory system has other important roles, such as to defend the respiratory track by coughing, speaking and posture related activity which can negatively affect QOL in SCI. Prolonged dependency, medical management and residual deficits also put SCI patients in stressful condition, this also affects QOL. Yoga therapy as alternative medicine is a relatively novel and emerging clinical discipline within the broad category of mind-body medicine. There are many studies which have proved the effect of YOGA on lung function and QOL in healthy individual, but there are very few studies done on effect of Modified YOGA on lung function and QOL in patients with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: We hypothesized that modified yoga training program coupled with conventional physiotherapy would have effect on respiratory function and quality of life in spinal cord injury patient. Aim of study was to determine, Does Modified YOGA training effect within 4 weeks on pulmonary function and quality of life in thoracic spinal cord injury patients?

Methods: Total 56 patients were screened with criteria, and 29 patients were considered for intervention: Experimental group (n=15) and Control group (n=14). Group A conventional Physical Rehabilitation therapy (with Breathing exercise) along with Modified Yoga Therapy (20 minutes modified yogasana, 5times in a week) compared to Group B which was given only conventional Physical Rehabilitation therapy (with Breathing exercise). All cautions for yogasana had been taken. Baseline data of Pulmonary Function Test by Spirometry, Respiratory pressure meter & WHOQOL-BREF scale were taken of all individuals. All patients were made to fill WHOQOL-BREF, and score noted.

Results: Experimental group (n=10) and control group (n=9) were analyzed by SPSS 16. Excluding 5 drop out in each group. Baseline characteristics of the Age, PRE-PEFR, PRE-MIP, PREWHOQOL-BREF & TPD (time of post-surgery duration) data were same at baseline in both groups, there was no significant difference of baseline data at the beginning of the study (p ≥0.05). Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied for the analysis of pre and post outcome measures of PEFR, MIP & WHOQOL-BREF within both the groups shows significant difference in all the outcome measures (p ≤0.05). Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the mean data between groups. MIP (p ≤0.01) & WHOQOL-BREF (p ≤0.001) showed statistically significant but not PEFR (p ≤0.21).

Conclusions: The result suggests that there was significant improvement in pulmonary function PEFR & MIP and also in WHOQOL-BREF in both Modified Yoga Therapy and Conventional Physical Rehabilitation Therapy. But within 4 weeks of training, Modified Yoga Therapy showed a significant improvement in MIP & WHOQOLBREF, compared with Conventional Physical Rehabilitation Therapy.

Implications: With help of ancient Indian YOGA therapy, there is better improvement in respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients with SCI. Modified YOGA should include along with conventional therapy for SCI rehabilitation program.

Funding acknowledgements: Study wasn't required any funding but there was great support of hospital staff and patients

Keywords:
Yoga
Pulmonary function
Spinal cord injury

Topics:
Cardiorespiratory
Neurology: spinal cord injury
Disability & rehabilitation

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Government Physiotherapy College and Spine Institute, Ahmedabad

Committee: The Institutional Ethical Committee, Government Spine Institute Ahmedabad

Ethics number: GSIIESC/24/15