Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32669763›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of yoga

Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Pranayama (Yogic Breathing): A Systematic Review.

Ranil Jayawardena, Priyanga Ranasinghe, Himansa Ranawaka, Nishadi Gamage, Dilshani Dissanayake, Anoop Misra

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of yoga. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
44citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

44 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Breathing techniques to reduce symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2024
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  6. Yoga and meditation for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study exploring participants' experiences.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ranil JayawardenaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Priyanga RanasingheDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Himansa RanawakaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Nishadi GamageDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Dilshani DissanayakeDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Anoop MisraFortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, Diabetes Foundation and National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, New Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPranayama (yogic breathing) has demonstrated numerous beneficial health effects. At present, there are no systematic reviews evaluating the beneficial health effects of pranayama alone as a practice.

aimThe aim of this study is to perform a systematic review about the beneficial health effects of pranayama.

methodsData were obtained using a stepwise search process by searching the online PubMed, Web of Science, and SciVerse Scopus databases using keywords. Controlled clinical trials in humans, using "Pranayama" as an intervention with an appropriate control group and evaluating health-related outcomes were selected for inclusion.

resultsInitial database searching indicated 669 potentially eligible articles, of which 18 studies satisfying the inclusion/exclusion criteria were selected. All were controlled trials, of which 13 were randomized and 1 was a crossover study. Number of participants ranged from 16 to 160, and the duration of pranayama practice varied from 4 days to 6 months. Studies demonstrated a significant effect on cardiorespiratory functions, in patients with bronchial asthma, with the improvement of pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory function measurements. Furthermore, reduction in the frequency of attacks, severity, and medication requirement was also observed, with improved quality of life (QOL). In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, symptom, activity, and impact scores were improved. QOL improvement was also noted in cancer patients.

conclusionsAvailable evidence on pranayama indicates physiological and psychological benefits. Beneficial effects were mostly observed in patients with respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma. It also helped those with cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, further high-quality randomized trials are required to provide definitive evidence.

Indexed as

Pranayamatherapeutic benefityogic breathing

Identifiers

PMID32669763
PMCPMC7336946

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.