EVALUATION OF PRANAYAMA PRACTICE INTERVENTION ON HAEMOGLOBIN, HIGH AND LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS IN WOMEN SOCCER PLAYERS

Abstract

Background: In yoga, researchers suggest that pranayama practices affect the various physiological parameters. The cholesterol and biochemical profiles of the body could be changed, and the changes reflect on the performance of athletes.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of a six-week Pranayama practice intervention on the Haemoglobin (Hb), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in Women Soccer Players.

Methods: Thirty (N=30) national women soccer players aged 21.5±0.5yrs trained 10±1.5yrs were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups consisting of 15 players each. The study was designed as an interventional and observational study. A six-week pranayama practice intervention was assigned five days per week to the experimental group only and the control was kept unless assigning the pranayama practices except regular soccer practice. The pertaining data of pre and post-pranayama practice intervention on Hb, HDL, and LDL levels of 30 women soccer players were collected through a clinical investigation.

Results: Statistically, the paired t-test showed a significant difference between the pre and post-test means of Hb, HDL and LDL for the experimental group as the obtained values of ‘t’ = -6.19, -3.08 and 4.25, respectively, are more significant at 0.05 (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the pre and post-test means of the control group (p>0.05). Further, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed significant differences among the pre and post-test means comparison between the experimental and control groups on Hb, HDL, and LDL levels as the respective ‘F’ = 13.58, 5.32, and 13.93, were more significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed an increase in Hb and HDL cholesterol, and a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels. Within six weeks, pranayama practice intervention significantly improved women soccer players haemoglobin and cholesterol levels authentically.