Effects Of Yogic Breathing Maneuvers on Kinetics of Diaphragm and Abdominal Muscles A Real Time Ultrasound Study

Abstract

Introduction newline newlinePranayama in Yoga is voluntarily controlled breathing in both inspiration as well as in expiration. Kapalabhati is a Shatkriyas which is a respiratory cleansing technique in Yoga using air as a medium. newlineThis study is the study of yogic breathing manoeuvres (YBM) which includes 6 Pranayama such as Anulom-Vilom, Sheetali, Seetkari, Ujjayi, Bhramari and Bhastrika and 1 kriya i.e. Kapalabhati newlineMany studies have reported positive effects of Pranayama on cardio- pulmonary function and mental well being. In Physiotherapy practice we have been prescribing Diaphragmatic exercises to patients with various pulmonary disorders with emphasis to Diaphragm movements. Even though there is lot of literature evidence on the effects of Yogic breathing on pulmonary physiology, it is essential to understand the kinetics of Respiratory muscles during these practices. newlineYBM can be broadly categorised into slow and fast YBM depending on frequency. Both the slow and fast YBM include deep inspiration and controlled prolonged expiration, with a sustained end Inspiratory Hold. In Fast YBM, there is also an intermediate phase which includes rapid and rhythmic contractions of abdominal muscles, which is associated with fast shallow breathing. newlineThe 1st phase of the study was study of the combined effects of YBM on kinetics of Diaphragm and Abdominal muscles following 8 weeks of training. The 2nd Phase was a descriptive analysis study to explore the kinetics of the diaphragm and each abdominal muscle during each of the seven YBM, in trained Yoga Practitioners. newlineMethodology newlineA real time ultrasound unit with M mode serves to be an ideal non-invasive tool for the study of deeply situated muscles like diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Hence this unit was used for assessing Diaphragm excursion during inspiration and Abdominal thickness during controlled expiration in both the phases of the study. newline