Immediate Effect of Buteyko Breathing Technique on VO2max in College Students

Background: The physical activity of the college-going students is reduced due to online studies during COVID19 situation because of which their cardiorespiratory endurance has also decreased.Endurance depends on oxygen transportation, blood pumping and its regulation, and the capacity of the system to extract muscular oxidative potential. Buteyko Breathing Technique‟s (BBT) main aim is to reduce the tendency to over breathe or hyperventilate through control breathing and it is also termed as „Reduce Breathing‟. BBT raises CO2 levels, which reduces pulmonary ventilation, affecting the delivery of O2 to the tissue and cells. Hence, the aim of the study is to see the immediate effect of BBT on VO2max in college students. Methodology: After explaining the whole procedure to the subject between 19 to 25 years, written informed consent was taken and pre-data VO2max was calculated through Queen‟s College Step Test. BBT was conducted and post-data VO2max was taken immediately. Result: The paired t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in VO2max and a statistical decrease in pulse rate with P < 0.05.Conclusion: VO2max has increased significantly and Pulse Rate has decreased significantly immediately after BBT. Hence, there is an immediate effect of BBT on VO2max in college students.