Effect of Yoga Therapy With And Without Panchakarma Therapy on Selected Risk Factors among Middle Aged Women Fireworkers Suffering from Pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Pneumoconiosis is a hazardous occupational lung disease characterized by inflammation, airway narrowing, and a range of clinical symptoms. It is closely linked to workplace exposures such as smoke, dust, and chemicals. Integrated approaches like yoga therapy and panchakarma therapy offer potential benefits for managing and reducing pneumoconiosis related symptoms. This randomized experimental study aimed to compare the effects of yoga therapy with and without panchakarma therapy on selected physiological, respiratory, and psychological parameters in middle aged women fire workers with pneumoconiosis. Sixty participants were randomly assigned into three groups of 20 each, Group I as Yoga Therapy with Panchakarma, Group II as Yoga Therapy alone, and Group III as Control group. The two intervention groups received 12 weeks of therapy, while the control group continued their routine activities. Pre and post tests were conducted for all dependent variables. ANOVA and Scheffe s post hoc tests were applied, with significance set at 0.05. Results indicated that both yoga therapy with panchakarma and yoga therapy alone produced significantly better improvements than the control group. Yoga combined with panchakarma showed the greatest benefits, including reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, improved breath holding time and chest X ray findings, enhanced respiratory measures such as forced vital capacity and pulmonary function, and reduced anxiety with better psychological attitudes. Overall, the findings suggest that yoga therapy especially when combined with panchakarma offers a comprehensive, natural, and cost effective approach to enhancing physiological, respiratory, and psychological wellbeing in individuals suffering from pneumoconiosis newline