ABSTRACT
Aim: Aim of our study was to assess the effect of pranayama on pretest & post test stress level in elderly control & experimental group. Study Design: An Institution based true experimental case control study was conducted on elderly people for a period of 4.2.2011 to 7.3.2011 residing in Pingalwara Amritsar. Study comprises randomly selected elderly of both sex including 30subjects each in experimental & control group. Exclusion criteria was age below 60years, elderly residing outside pingalwara and those not willing to participate. Methodology: Simple Random sampling technique &Standarized tool was used formethod of collection of data. Pretest stress level was analyzed in both groups by Depression anxiety stressScale &then Pranayama therapy was introduced to Experimental group & then Post test stress level was assessed in both the groups by Depression anxiety stressScale. Results:Paired ‘t’ test reveals that there is significant (p <0.05) difference between pretest& posttest stress scores of experimental group as during pretest 10% had extreme severe & 30% had severe further 33% had moderate & 27% of them had mild stress. However during post test only 3% had extremly severe & 10% had severe further 47% had moderate and 40% of them had mild level of stress. Pretest and Post test level of stress among the control group reveals that in the pretest 10% had extreme severe stress &20% of the elderly had severe stress further 40% had moderate & 30% of them had mild stress. However during post test 7% had extreme severe level of stress&20% had severe stress further 40% of the elderly had moderate and 33% of them had mild level of stress.