Modified Yoga for Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Overview

This pilot interventional study evaluated whether adding wheelchair-adapted Modified Yoga Therapy to conventional physical rehabilitation could improve pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life in adults with traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury. Participants with operated traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury were assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The control group received Conventional Physical Rehabilitation Therapy (CPRT), while the experimental group received CPRT together with a 20-minute Modified Yoga Therapy program, five days per week for four weeks. The yoga program included wheelchair-adapted postures, breathing exercises (Pranayama), and relaxation. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after four weeks and included Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), and quality of life measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The study evaluated whether Modified Yoga Therapy could serve as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury.

This pilot interventional study was conducted in the Physiotherapy Department of the General Hospital, Ahmedabad, and evaluated the addition of Modified Yoga Therapy (MYT) to Conventional Physical Rehabilitation Therapy (CPRT) in adults with operated traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury. Participants were assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The control group received CPRT, which included respiratory exercises and conventional physical and occupational rehabilitation. The experimental group received the same conventional rehabilitation together with MYT. MYT was specifically adapted for participants using wheelchairs and was administered for 20 minutes per session, five days per week for four weeks. The program included Sukshmakriya as a warm-up; wheelchair-adapted Yogasana including Hastauttanasana, Padahastasana, Ardhmatsyendrasana, Garudasana, and Ardhachandrasana; Anulom Vilom Pranayama; and relaxation with Savasana. Assessments were performed at baseline and after four weeks to evaluate pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life.