Modified Yoga for Pulmonary Function and Quality of Life in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

This pilot interventional study evaluated whether adding wheelchair-adapted Modified Yoga Therapy to conventional physical rehabilitation could improve pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life in adults with traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury. Participants with operated traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury were assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The control group received Conventional Physical Rehabilitation Therapy (CPRT), while the experimental group received CPRT together with a 20-minute Modified Yoga Therapy program, five days per week for four weeks. The yoga program included wheelchair-adapted postures, breathing exercises (Pranayama), and relaxation. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after four weeks and included Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), and quality of life measured using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The study evaluated whether Modified Yoga Therapy could serve as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants with operated traumatic thoracic spinal cord injury at levels T1-T12. Participants who had completed Tilt Table Mobilization with weight-bearing permission from the orthopedic surgeon. Participants classified as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale Grade A or Grade B. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with associated chest, rib, or abdominal trauma. Participants who had undergone recent secondary surgeries. Participants with cardiopulmonary diseases. Participants with autonomic dysreflexia.