The effects of yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation on outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 and anxiety scores

Abstract

Context: Decreasing the outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 is essential. For relieving symptoms, some complementary approaches are suggested. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation on outpatients' symptoms of COVID-19 and anxiety scores. Setting and Design: This interventional study was conducted on 110 women with positive results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-COV2 virus referred to PCR testing centers in Rafsanjan city, Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: The participants were assigned into intervention (n = 53) and control (n = 57) groups by simple randomization according to a computer-generated assignment list. In this study, the intervention group practiced 20-min yoga-based breathing techniques and 20-min meditation daily for a 6-day period, control group did not receive any contact till 6 th day. The symptoms' severity and headache, myalgia, and anxiety scores were evaluated on the 1 st and 6 th days via call interview by demographic and disease symptoms' checklist and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Statistical Analysis Used: The obtained data were then reported as descriptive statistics and were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, t-Test, McNemar's test, Mann-Whitney U-Test, and multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: At six days after intervention, the group that practiced yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation had lower scores of headache (P < 0.001), myalgia (P < 0.001), and anxiety (P < 0.001) and lower severity of cough (P < 0.001), dyspnea (P = 0.019), and weakness (P = 0.006) than the control group. Conclusion: It appears that yoga-based breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation could be considered effective and easy complementary therapies in COVID-19 patients for reducing the symptom severity and anxiety level.