22 Telles, Sharma, Yadav, Singh, Balkrishna Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2014; 58(1) Original Article Immediate changes in muscle strength and motor speed following yoga breathing Shirley Telles*, Sachin Kr. Sharma, Arti Yadav, Nilkamal Singh and Acharya Balkrishna Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India Abstract The present study was conducted to assess the immediate effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on muscle strength and motor speed. Bilateral handgrip strength, leg and back strength, finger tapping and arm tapping speed were assessed in fifty male participants (group mean age±SD, 26.9±6.2 years) before and after (a) high frequency yoga breathing for 15 minutes and (b) breath awareness for the same duration. Sessions (a) and (b) were on two different days but at the same time of the day. The schedule was alternated for different participants. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in right hand grip strength after high frequency yoga breathing. Both finger and arm tapping improved after both practices. The results suggest a role for high frequency yoga breathing in improving the hand grip strength as an immediate effect. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2014; 58(1) : 22–29 Introduction Bilateral handgrip strength is an objective anthropometric measure used in varied situations. Examples include determining work capacity (1), the extent of injury and disease, as well as the potential for and progress in rehabilitation (2). Isometric back strength and leg strength are also recognized anthropometric assessments. The efficiency of muscle function is also determined by the ability to perform successive, rapid alternating movements quickly and without fatigue, which is assessed by the tapping speed (3). Yoga practice includes specific postures ( asanas ), breathing techniques ( pranayamas), and meditation, among other practices (4). Previously, three months of practicing a combination of yoga techniques, increased the bilateral hand grip strength in male physical education teachers, who had an average of nine years experience in the profession (5). School children, aged between twelve and 15 years also showed improved hand grip strength after ten days of practicing various yoga techniques (6). Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who had pain and swelling of the finger joints showed an improvement in hand grip strength following a yoga session five times a week, for eight weeks, followed by weekly two-hour sessions for three months (7). These studies assessed the effect of yoga practiced over a period of time on hand grip strength. Yoga practice also increased tapping speed in children after ten days and in adults after a month (8). For both groups, the tapping speed increased during the first ten seconds of the test, but not during *Corresponding author : Shirley Telles, Ph.D., Patanjali Research Foundation, Maharishi Dayanand Gram, Bahadrabad, Haridwar, Uttarakhand – 249405, India. Tel. Ph. : +91-01334-244805; Telefax : +91-01334-244805, E-mail : shirleytelles@gmail.com (received on February 12, 2013)