Covıd-19 Pandemisi Sürecinde Astımlı Çocuklarda Telerehabilitasyonla Uygulanan Yoga Eğitiminin Astım Kontrolü, Fonksiyonel Kapasite, Fiziksel Uygunluk, Fiziksel Aktivite ve Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Yoga exercises are recommended for asthma patients to improve pulmonary and physical functions. The effectiveness of tele-yoga in children with asthma has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tele-yoga training on asthma control, respiratory function, functional capacity, physical fitness, and physical activity levels in children with asthma negatively affected by the pandemic in terms of physical activity and functional capacity. The study involved 66 children with asthma aged 6-11 years. The children were randomly divided into two groups, one group received tele-yoga while the other group continued with standard medical treatment. Tele-yoga was applied for 12 weeks, 40 minutes each session, for 36 sessions. The primary outcome was pulmonary function test results. Asthma control (Childhood Asthma Control Test), functional capacity (6 Minute Walk Test-6MWT), handgrip (HGS) and quadriceps muscle strength (QMS), physical fitness (FITNESSGRAM), and physical activity levels (Physical Activity Questionnaire–Child-PAQ-C) and quality of life (Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) were assessed as secondary outcomes. After the training, no significant difference was observed in asthma control, 6MWT distance, QMS and PAQ-C score between the groups (p>0.05). However, the yoga group showed moderate improvements in respiratory function parameters with increased FVC (%) value. Additionally, there were significant improvements in physical fitness parameters, specifically in the number of push-ups, %HGS and quality of life (p<0.05). These findings suggest that yoga may have a beneficial impact on certain physical parameters in children with asthma. Asthma control, functional exercise capacity, and physical activity level are also preserved with yoga training.