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May 20, 2026

B108-12 Impact of a Structured Yoga Program on Functional Capacity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - A Prospective Cohort Study

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the effects of a structured yoga program on functional capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Adults with confirmed IPF on stable antifibrotic therapy participated in a 12-week program.
Participants were self-selected into Yoga + Usual Care and Usual Care only cohorts, with yoga sessions focused on breathing and relaxation techniques.
Outcomes measured included six-minute walk distance and lung function over the follow-up period.
At 12 weeks, the yoga group showed a significant increase in six-minute walk distance of +16 m compared to +2 m in controls (p=0.04).
31% of yoga participants had a clinically meaningful improvement in six-minute walk distance versus 15% in controls (p=0.06).
No serious adverse events were reported; program rated beneficial by 91% of participants.

Abstract

Abstract Rationale Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is marked by progressive exertional limitation and poor quality of life. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves exercise tolerance but remains resource-intensive and often inaccessible. Yoga, integrating controlled breathing, gentle postures, and mindfulness. As limited data exist on objective functional outcomes, This study evaluates yoga as an affordable, accessible alternative to pulmonary rehabilitation, addressing limited access to standard supportive care in low-resource and underserved ILD populations. Methods Adults (≥40 y) with multidisciplinary-confirmed IPF on stable antifibrotic therapy were recruited from a tertiary-care ILD clinic and followed for 12 weeks. Participants self-selected into Yoga + Usual Care or Usual Care only cohorts. The yoga group attended 45-60 min sessions three times weekly for eight weeks, followed by once-weekly maintenance sessions emphasizing diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing, gentle stretching, and guided relaxation. Oxygen was titrated to maintain SpO2 ≥ 90 %. The primary outcome was change in six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Secondary assessments included lung function (FVC % predicted), and session safety. Between-group differences were analyzed using mixed-effects regression; correlations between FVC and 6MWD were evaluated with Spearman’s coefficients. Results Sixty-eight participants completed follow-up (Yoga = 35; Control = 33). Mean ± SD age was 69 ± 6 y; baseline FVC = 66 ± 11 % predicted; baseline 6MWD = 338 ± 74 m. At 12 weeks, the yoga cohort demonstrated a mean 6MWD gain of + 16 m (95 % CI + 5 to + 27) versus +2 m (95 % CI -8 to + 12) in controls (p = 0.04). A clinically meaningful improvement (≥25 m) occurred in 31 % of yoga participants compared with 15 % of controls (p = 0.06), while FVC remained stable (Δ + 0.3 %, NS). FVC correlated moderately with 6MWD (ρ = 0.30, p = 0.04), consistent with interstitial lung disease rehabilitation studies. No serious adverse events occurred. Transient desaturation 88 % occurred in 3 % of sessions and resolved with oxygen adjustment. Mean adherence was 82 %, and 91 % of participants rated the program as beneficial. Conclusions A 12-week structured yoga program was safe, feasible, and associated with modest yet clinically meaningful improvements in exercise capacity and dyspnea among patients with stable IPF. Functional gains were comparable to those observed in recent pulmonary rehabilitation and yoga trials, supporting yoga as an accessible, low-cost adjunct to standard IPF management. Larger multicenter randomized studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy and durability of benefit. This abstract is funded by: None

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