EFFECTS OF ABDOMINAL MUSCLE EXERCISES ON PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE IN COLLEGE GOING OBESE FEMALES.

Aim: To find the effectiveness of abdominal muscle exercises on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in college going obese females. Material and Methods:A total of 20 college going obese females were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria who did not receive any sort of exercise and went about their daily routines as usual. Abdominal exercise protocol will include crunches, hiprolls, double knee to chest movement, planks, flutter kicks. PEFR was measured using Peak flow meter. The maximum of the 3 similar trials were taken, and the mean of these trials were calculated, which gave us the final pre PEFR reading of each participant. After recording the pre peak expiratory flow rate all participant were given exercises for a period of 3 months, 4 days a week, 3 sets of each exercise with 10 repetitions per set which gives us post PEFR reading. Result: Statistical Analysis was done using paired group 't' test to compare pre and post peak expiratory flow rate, which is statically significant with (p <0.05). The pre intervention peak expiratory flow rate values were (226.50±40.04), whereas post intervention the value was (292 ± 38.61). Conclusion: When the effectiveness of Abdominal exercise on PEFR was checked using Peak Flow Meter, after 3 months of training, they showed significant improvement in PEFR reading. It shows that the Abdominal exercises are significantly effective in increasing respiratory muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]