Comparison of Yoga and Tai Chi Exercises in Patients With Asthma
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Asthma can impair exercise tolerance, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life. Yoga and Tai Chi are mind-body approaches that may complement conventional asthma management, but direct comparative evidence is limited. Objective: To compare the effects of Yoga-based exercise and Tai Chi on cardiopulmonary fitness and health-related quality of life in adults with asthma. Methods: This randomized clinical trial included 30 adults with mild-to-moderate asthma at Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were allocated to Yoga (n=15) or Tai Chi (n=15) and completed supervised 30-minute sessions three times weekly for eight weeks. Outcomes included SGRQ, 6MWT, VO₂ max, spirometry, dyspnea, and cardiorespiratory measures. Continuous outcomes were assessed using paired and independent-samples comparisons, with direct between-group changes calculated where supported by the reported data. Results: Yoga produced a greater reduction in SGRQ total score than Tai Chi (between-group change -6.68 points; 95% CI -10.21 to -3.15; p<0.001) and a greater increase in 6MWT distance (+31.44 m; 95% CI 14.35-48.53; p<0.001), FEV₁ (+0.098 L; 95% CI 0.038-0.158; p=0.003), and FEV₁ predicted (+3.18 percentage points; 95% CI 1.14-5.22; p=0.003). Week-8 VO₂ max was also higher with Yoga (mean difference 3.22 mL/kg/min; p=0.005). Between-group changes in FEV₁/FVC, FVC, and cardiorespiratory responses were not significant. Conclusion: Both interventions were associated with improvement, while Yoga showed greater short-term benefit for selected quality-of-life, functional, and pulmonary outcomes
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
1. Bahçecioğlu Turan G, Tan M. The effect of yoga on respiratory functions, symptom control and life quality of asthma patients: a randomized controlled study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;38:101070. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101070.
2. Agnihotri S, Kant S, Kumar S, Mishra RK, Mishra SK. The assessment of effects of yoga on pulmonary functions in asthmatic patients: a randomized controlled study. J Med Soc. 2016;30(2):98-102. doi:10.4103/0972-4958.182909.
3. Yüce GE, Taşcı S. Effect of pranayama breathing technique on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;38:101081. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101081.
4. Sangeethalaxmi MJ, Hankey A. Impact of yoga breathing and relaxation as an add-on therapy on quality of life, anxiety, depression and pulmonary function in young adults with bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled trial. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023;14(1):100546. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2022.100546.
5. Yadav P, Jain PK, Sharma BS, Sharma M. Yoga therapy as an adjuvant in management of asthma. Indian J Pediatr. 2021;88(11):1127-1134. doi:10.1007/s12098-021-03675-y.
6. Behera AK, Kumar V, Rathore M, Kant S, Dubey PK, Ramkishore V, et al. Prospective evaluation of impact of structured yoga program on inflammatory biochemical profile, anxiety, and sleep quality index among asthma patients: an open-label, randomized controlled trial. Indian J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2025;39(2):89-93. doi:10.4103/ijaai.ijaai_50_25.
7. Nur A, Kusnanto K, Amin M, Sajidin M, Kurniawati ND, Bakhtiar A. The effect of combination pranayama yoga and endurance training exercise on peak expiratory flow (PEF) in adult asthmatic patients. J Keperawatan Padjadjaran. 2020;8(2):137-150. doi:10.24198/jkp.v8i2.1350.
8. Liao PC, Lin HH, Chiang BL, Lee JH, Yu HH, Lin YT, et al. Tai Chi Chuan exercise improves lung function and asthma control through immune regulation in childhood asthma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:9146827. doi:10.1155/2019/9146827.
9. Lin HC, Lin HP, Yu HH, Wang LC, Lee JH, Lin YT, et al. Tai-Chi-Chuan exercise improves pulmonary function and decreases exhaled nitric oxide level in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic children and improves quality of life in children with asthma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:6287642. doi:10.1155/2017/6287642.
10. Jonelienė R, Dudonienė V, Švėgždienė L. Effect of Tai Chi exercises treating bronchial asthma in 8–11-year-old children. Reabilitacijos Mokslai Slauga Kineziterapija Ergoterapija. 2015;2(13). doi:10.33607/rmske.v2i13.690.
11. El-Shabrawy HN, Abd El-Megied MI, El-Batanouny MM, Mohamed NA. Effect of aerobic exercise training versus pranayama yoga training on patients with bronchial asthma. Int J Environ Sci. 2025:974-985. doi:10.64252/j3xm0y37.
12. Rohmansyah NA, Hiruntrakul A. The impact of compare yoga and aerobic on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life. Retos. 2025;72:796-806. doi:10.47197/retos.v72.116580.
13. Shaik AR. Comparison between yoga exercises versus Tai Chi exercises for dynamic balance training among diabetic neuropathy patients. J Pharm Negat Results. 2022;13(Spec Issue 5):402-406. doi:10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S05.60.