Efficacy and tolerability of yoga breathing in COPD patients: a pilot study.

Purpose: Yoga-derived breathing has been reported to improve gas exchange in chronic heart failure patients and in subjects exposed to high altitude hypoxia. We aimed to investigate the tolerability and the effect of yoga breathing on ventilatory pattern and oxygenation in COPD patients. Methods: 11 COPD (3 females) without previous yoga practice and assuming only short acting beta2adrenergic drugs, were enrolled. Ventilatory pattern and oxygen saturation were monitored by means of inductive plethysmography during 30 minutes spontaneous breathing at rest (sb) and during a 30 minute yoga lesson (y). During the yoga lesson the patients were requested to mobilise in sequence the diaphragm, the lower chest, and the upper chest adopting a slower and deeper breathing. We evaluated: oxygen saturation (SaO2%), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (VE), respiratory rate (f), inspiratory time, total breath time, fractional inspiratory time, an index of thoraco-abdominal coordination and an index of rapid shallow breathing. Changes in dyspnoea during yoga lesson were assessed with the Borg scale. Results show during the yoga lesson the adoption of a deeper and slower breathing (VTsb L 0,54(0.04), VTy L 0,74(0.08)*; fsb 20.8(1.3),fy 13.8(0.2)*) and a significant improvement in SaO2% with no change in VE (SaO2%sb 91.5%(1.13), SaO2%y 93.5%(0.99)*; VEsb L/min 11.2(1.1), VEy L/min 10.2(0.9)). All the subjects reported to be comfortable during the yoga lesson with no increase in dyspnoea index. Conclusion: We conclude that short-term training in yoga is well tolerated and induces favourable respiratory changes in COPD patients.