Effect Of Yoga On Perceived Stress And Pulmonary Function In High Stressed Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Postmenopausal phase is characterized by a continuous decline in ovarian function due to which women are
vulnerable to stress and health complications including the efficiency of respiratory muscles. Hormonal
therapy causes complications which has resulted in search for various alternative therapies to improve the
quality of life. Yoga is one such alternative therapy. There are very few scientific studies regarding the
effect of yoga on stress and respiratory parameters. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of
one year yoga therapy on pulmonary function tests and perceived stress in postmenopausal women. The
study was implemented after obtaining the consent from the Institutional ethical Committee. Informed
consent was obtained from all the participants. Newly recruited postmenopausal women (48-60 years)
having the high stress level (PSS score > 25) were taken for this study. Vital capacity (VC), FVC, FEV1,
FEV1 ratio, PEFR, FEF 50, were measured with the help of computerized Vitalograph (Pneumotrac). After
one year of yoga therapy perceived stress scale and the respiratory parameters were again analyzed. The
parameters obtained were grouped into before one year yoga therapy (Group I) and after one year yoga
therapy (Group II). Yoga therapy for one year showed the significant P< (0.0001) improvement in the stress
reduction and the respiratory parameters compared to the control group. This study clearly demonstrates the
effectiveness of one year yoga therapy in decreasing stress and improvement in respiratory parameters
.Yoga is easy, safe, non-expensive alternative therapy helping the postmenopausal women and this could be
encouraged in the regular management in improving the overall quality of life.