The Effect of Yoga on Early Clinical Outcomes and Pulmonary Functions in Patients Scheduled for Bariatric Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Purpose The present research was undertaken to investigate the effect of yoga on pulmonary function and early clinical outcomes in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery.Materials and Methods This research with a randomized control group was performed on patients scheduled for bariatric surgery between October 2021 and June 2022 in the General Surgery Clinic of a University Hospital in Eastern Turkey. The sample consists of 100 randomized patients who received yoga breathing exercises and routine care. Pulmonary function test (PFT), posteroanterior chest X-rays (CXR), 6-min walk test, and oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were applied as a pretest. The researcher practiced yoga for 40 min every day of the week. Post-test measurements were performed at the end of the yoga practice. Control group patients underwent the tests at the same intervals without any modifications to the standard clinical protocol.Results The difference between the control and experimental groups was significant in terms of post-test PFT measurements (p < 0.001). In the CXR of the patients, a statistically significant improvement was determined in 61.5% of the patients with yoga breathing practice (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant increase in the 6-min walk test and SpO(2) values in the experimental group (p < 0.05).Conclusion Yoga practice positively affected the pulmonary function values of the patients.