Effect of Pranayama on Quality of Life Among Geriatric People

Background: As the world's population ages and people live longer, it is increasingly important to ensure that older individuals have a good quality of life. Yoga, including techniques like Pranayama, can be a valuable way to reduce psychological issues such as stress, particularly in the elderly. Reports suggest that Pranayama can improve the quality of life for the elderly and help change their attitudes towards age-related changes. Aim: To study the effect of pranayama on Geriatric people's quality of life. Objective: To find out the effect of pranayama on quality of life by using the WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire among Geriatric people. Methodology: This study was conducted in the Physiotherapy department of a Civil Hospital in Ahmadabad, Gujarat. A total of 48 subjects were selected using a convenient sampling method. The research instrument consisted of a demographic data profile and the WHOQOL-BREF scale to evaluate the quality of life experienced during the ageing phase. The intervention of pranayama was provided to selected participants for a continuous period of 4 weeks, 6 days per week. The pranayama session included Anulom-Viom Pranayama. Result: According to the study, there was no significant difference in the pretest mean (SD) between the experimental group (71.38 ± 12.04) and the control group (71.27 ± 10.15). However, the intervention posttest showed a statistically significant difference in the mean (SD) of the experimental group (73.38 ± 10.62) and the control group (70.27 ± 7.83). This indicates a significant difference in the post-test mean score of the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The study concluded that Pranayama showed statistically significant improvement in the quality of life for Geriatric people after prolonged implementation. Key words: Quality Of Life, Pranayama, Geriatric people