Yogic practices as a non-pharmacological approach to cardiopulmonary function and body composition among badminton players

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a structured twelve-week yogic intervention on selected physiological variables among college-level male badminton players. The primary objective was to examine whether regular yogic practices could significantly enhance vital capacity, regulate blood pressure, and improve body composition. Thirty participants (18-25 years) were randomly assigned to two equal groups. The experimental group engaged in a daily one-hour yogic practices regimen comprising Yogic Prayer, Suryanamaskar, Asanas, Pranayama, and Meditation, conducted six days a week for twelve weeks under expert supervision. The control group maintained their usual activities without any intervention. Physiological parameters—vital capacity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI)—were measured pre- and post-intervention using standardized instruments, including a wet spirometer and Omron HEM 7156 T digital monitor. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality and paired t-tests to assess within-group changes, with IBM SPSS (version 22) at a 0.05 significance level. The experimental group showed significant improvements in all variables: increased vital capacity (p = .000), reduced systolic (p = .009) and diastolic blood pressure (p = .038), and lowered BMI (p = .030). In contrast, the control group exhibited no statistically significant changes. These findings underscore the effectiveness of yogic practices in enhancing respiratory function, cardiovascular health, and body composition among young athletes, highlighting yogic practices as a beneficial non-pharmacological intervention in sports physiology.