Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of yoga training on rhinitis symptoms and cytokines in allergic rhinitis patients. Twenty-seven allergic rhinitis patients, aged 18-45 year old, were randomized into 2 groups: control group (CON; n=14) and yoga group (YOG; n=13). The control group had normal life and the yoga group was required to complete protocol with yoga training for a period of 8 weeks, 60 minutes, 3 times a week. Physiological variables, lung function variables, allergic rhinitis symptoms variables, and cytokines level in nasal secretion variables were analyzed during pre-test and post-test. The dependent variables between pre-test and post-test were analyzed by a paired t-test. The dependent variables between group were analyzed by independent t-test. One way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables among pre-test, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks. Differences were considered to be significant at p < .05. The results were as follow: 1. After 8 weeks, there were no significant differences in body weight, body mass index, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure between pre and post-test and between CON and YOG groups. 2. After 8 weeks, FEV1/ FVC, FEF 25-75% and MVV variables in YOG group were increased significantly when compared with pre-test and CON group (p<0.05). Moreover, FEV1 was significantly higher than CON group (p<0.05). 3. After 4 weeks and 8 weeks, the means of nasal blood flow and rhinitis symptoms including nasal congestion, itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea and total symptoms were significantly lower than pre-test and CON group (p<0.05). Inaddition, peak nasal inspiatory flow was significantly higher than pre-test and CON group. 4. After 8 weeks, there were significant difference in interleukin-2 level between CON and YOG group and between pre and post-test (p<0.05). However, There were no significant difference in interleukin-6 between CON and YOG group and between pre and post-test (p<0.05). In conlusion, the present findings demonstrated that eight weeks of yoga training can reduce symptoms and also increase interleukin-2 level. Yoga trainingin is beneficial effects for patients with allergic rhinitis.