Key result
A 10-week yoga training program significantly improved quality of life by 45% (p<0.05) and altered autonomic modulation in response to exercise in women with mild-to-moderate asthma.
Why the study?
Does 10 weeks of yoga training improve quality of life and heart rate variability in women with mild-to-moderate asthma?
RCT (n=19)
randomly assigned
Does 10 weeks of yoga training improve quality of life and heart rate variability in women with mild-to-moderate asthma?
p-value: p=<0.05
A 10-week yoga training program significantly improves quality of life and alters autonomic modulation in women with mild-to-moderate asthma.
Supports adjunctive yoga for QoL in mild-moderate asthma; extends autonomic modulation evidence from RCT.
OBJECTIVES: Individuals with asthma frequently suffer with a decrease in quality of life. Yoga has been shown to improve autonomic function in the healthy population and has been used as an alternative therapy to help improve symptoms associated with various diseases. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether 10 weeks of yoga training can improve quality of life and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with asthma. DESIGN: Nineteen (19) females were randomly assigned to a yoga group or a control group for a 10-week intervention while still following guidelines established by their physician. All subjects answered the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) to assess quality of life and performed an isometric handgrip exercise test to assess HRV. RESULTS: Based on the SGRQ, significant improvements (45%, p < 0.05) in quality of life were observed with the yoga training, while no changes were found in the control group. Resting hemodynamic measures improved significantly in the yoga group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The yoga group decreased parasympathetic modulation (HFnu [normalized units]) pre- to postintervention (0.45 ± 0.60 to 0.35 ± 0.06 nu, p<0.05, respectively) in response to the isometric forearm exercise (IFE), whereas the control group did not change. Additionally, the yoga group increased sympathetic (LFnu) (pre 0.47 ± 0.07 to post 0.60 ± 0.07 nu, p < 0.05) and sympathovagal modulation (logLF/HF) (pre 4.61 ± 0.39 to post 5.31 ± 0.44, p < 0.05, respectively) during IFE with no change in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga training improved quality of life in women with mild-to-moderate asthma and resulted in decreased parasympathetic and increased sympathetic modulation in response to an IFE.
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Bidwell et al. (2012) conducted an RCT in Asthma (n=19). Yoga training vs. Control group was evaluated on Quality of life (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire) and heart rate variability (p=<0.05). A 10-week yoga training program significantly improved quality of life by 45% (p<0.05) and altered autonomic modulation in response to exercise in women with mild-to-moderate asthma.
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