Effect of pranayama versus aerobic exercise on hematological parameters in women with iron-deficiency anemia

Authors

  • Shokry Mahmoud Youssef Mohamed Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Physical Therapy, October 6 University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Kerolous Ishak Shehata Kelini Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordon, Amman, Jordon.
  • Shimaa Sayed Mahmoud Ahmed Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Middle East University, Jordan / Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Physical therapy, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo, Egypt.
  • Azza Abd Elaziz Abd Elhady Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder & Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Karim Ahmed Fathy Ahmed Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Physical Therapy, October 6 University, Giza, Egypt.
  • Manal Mahmoud Mohamed Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Physical Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.
  • Ali Mohamed Ali Ismail Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder & Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.694821
Keywords: Pranayama, Aerobic Exercise, Iron Deficiency, Anemic Females

Abstract

A growing body of evidence shows that individuals with iron deficiency anemia have deficits in some of their hematological parameters that may be associated with increased fatigue, which affects their quality of life. This study aimed to differentiate between the efficacy of pranayama and aerobic exercise on hematological parameters in females with iron deficiency anemia. Sixty patients aged between 30 and 40 years were selected from the outpatient clinic of October 6 University Hospital and were randomly divided into two groups. Study group (I) (n=30) participated in 12 weeks of anemia medication, diet recommendations, and 50 minutes of yoga practice, divided into 15 minutes of asana, 30 minutes of pranayama, and 5 minutes of meditation, for six times/week. Control group (II) (n=30) participated in 12 weeks of medical treatment of anemia, dietary advice, and treadmill aerobic exercise sessions for six times per week. All subjects were assessed by a hematology analyzer, a six-minute walking test, and the fatigue severity scale before and after the treatment program. In both groups, there were statistically significant improvements in all assessed variables except lymphocytes (p<0.05), with a higher percentage of improvement in favor of group I. Pranayama is more effective than aerobic exercise in improving hematological parameters in females with iron deficiency anemia.

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Published
31-12-2025
How to Cite
Youssef Mohamed, S. M., Shehata Kelini, K. I., Mahmoud Ahmed, S. S., Elaziz Abd Elhady, A. A., Fathy Ahmed, K. A., Mohamed, M. M., & Ali Ismail, A. M. (2025). Effect of pranayama versus aerobic exercise on hematological parameters in women with iron-deficiency anemia. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 14, 155. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.694821
Issue
Vol. 14 (2025)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.