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

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 (SpO₂) 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 SpO₂ values in the experimental group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Yoga practice positively affected the pulmonary function values of the patients.