Effect of pranayama exercises on vital capacity among handball players

Abstract

Background: In India ancient sages recognized some simple to practice breathing exercises that brought relaxation in body and mind. Various studies have shown that pranayama exercises improve lung functions as well as strengthens the inspiratory and expiratory muscles of respiratory system in human beings. Objective: The objective of present study was to examine the effect of pranayama exercises on vital capacity in handball players. Materials and Methods: In this study thirty-one (N=31) male national level handball players of Jammu and Kashmir were selected as subjects. The age of subjects ranged from 17 to 19 years. The subjects underwent yoga training in morning session for the period of 7 weeks 40 minutes in a day. The vital capacity was measured before and after 7 weeks of yoga training by using Spiro meter. The one-group pretest-posttest research design was used in this study. Results: After analysis of collected data, significant effect of pranayama exercises in yoga training was found on vital capacity in handball players. Conclusion: It was concluded that pranayama exercises improves vital capacity significantly.