Comparative Study of Immediate and Long-Term Effect of Kumbhaka Practice on Lung Capacities, Cognition and Anxiety in Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

Background Kumbhaka is one of phase on pranayama practice in hath yoga tradition. It is the ability of breath retention by practitioner to remain without breathing as long as possible, without any kind effort. Many studies are carried to see the changes on the various physiological and psychological parameters due to practice of kumbhaka in health volunteer. Aim The aim of the present study is to evaluate the immediate and long-term effect of Kumbhaka practice on lung capacities, cognition and anxiety in healthy volunteers. Methodology Sixty healthy male volunteers age range between 20-30 years (mean±SD; 26.03±2.54 years) underwent half an hour practice of kumbhaka (inhalation followed by retention of breath as long as possible then slow exhalation), five days in a week for 30 days. Selective attention, concentration, memory, maximum breath holding time (BHT) & peak expiratory flow rate (P.E. F.R), state and trait anxiety were assessed using appropriate assessment tools, before and after thirty days. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results There was a significant improvement in digit letter substitution scores, six letter cancellation test scores and digit forward and backward score and state and trail anxiety score after one month of kumbhaka practice. Kumbhaka has shown the significant effect on BHT (p=0.001), P.E.F.R (p=0.050), State anxiety (p=0.001), Trait anxiety (p=0.001), DLST (p=0.013), SLCT (p=0.045) & DMT (p=0.001) also has immediate effects on BHT (p=0.254), P.E.F.R. (p=0.224), State anxiety (p=0.001), Trait anxiety (p=0.008), DLST (p=0.554) SLCT (p=0.226) & DMT (p=0.066). Conclusion One-month practice of kumbhaka exhibited significant improvement on lung capacities, cognition and anxiety in healthy volunteers. However, further randomized controlled trial need to be performed to confirm findings on a bigger sample size to generalize the effect of practice for general population.