1. The Effect of Qigong-Chinese Breathing Exercise on the Forced Vital Capacity of Participants with Different Breathing Habits
Emma Johnson
Aberdeen Central High School
Purpose
Raw Data
Data Analysis
Forced Vital Capacity of Different Groups of Participants
Gender
Group
Activity
Initial FVC (L/s)
Final FVC (L/s)
Change
Female
Athlete
Basketball
9.534
9.332
(0.20)
5.129
9.166
4.04
Cross Country
7.120
7.348
0.23
5.691
9.271
3.58
3.681
5.726
2.05
3.822
4.822
1.00
8.525
9.871
1.35
2.549
4.322
1.77
6.796
7.516
0.72
5.761
6.130
0.37
Musician
Band
6.138
8.209
2.07
6.024
10.890
4.87
Choir
6.344
6.987
0.64
5.498
8.659
3.16
11.170
10.940
(0.23)
7.936
9.181
1.25
5.858
8.142
2.28
5.973
9.420
3.45
5.390
8.769
3.38
4.820
6.972
2.15
4.173
5.988
1.82
Male
7.033
6.954
(0.08)
6.928
2.24
7.253
10.690
3.44
5.384
8.003
2.62
6.015
1.02
6.340
7.779
1.44
12.190
12.280
0.09
8.192
11.720
3.53
6.366
8.930
2.56
3.181
5.139
1.96
15.650
16.400
0.75
3.128
4.973
1.85
15.670
17.970
2.30
13.700
14.240
0.54
10.750
11.630
0.88
4.304
6.381
2.08
3.926
4.648
4.008
7.100
3.09
This experiment was designed to compare the respiratory vital capacity of people with different breathing habits and styles before and after Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise, in order to determine whether practicing this breathing exercise regularly has an effect on the lung capacity and output for different groups of people.
Two-sample T for Initial FVC vs Final FVC for All Participants
N Mean StDev SE Mean
Initial FVC
Final FVC
Difference = mu (Initial FVC) - mu (Final FVC)
Estimate for difference:
95% CI for difference: ( , )
T-Test of difference = 0 (vs not =): T-Value = P-Value = DF = 79
The graph states that the Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise typically had a positive effect on the forced vital capacity of participants.
Hypothesis
The groups of people who do regular breathing exercises, especially the musicians, will have a greater forced vital capacity than those who do not, and the breathing exercise will not affect the groups equally.
Materials
Two-Sample T-Test and CI: Forced Vital Capacity: Choir Initial vs. Cross Country Initial
Two-sample T for Initial Choir vs. Initial Cross Country
N Mean StDev SE Mean
Initial Choir
Initial Cross Co
Difference = mu (Initial Choir) - mu (Initial Cross Country)
Estimate for difference:
95% CI for difference: ( , )
T-Test of difference = 0 (vs. not =): T-Value = P-Value = DF = 11
LoggerPro Software
Vernier LabPro® Interface
Spirometer Sensor
USB Cable
Spirometer Flow Head
Sharpie Markers
50 Disposable Bacterial Filters
Methods
Determine lung volume using a spirometer
Prepare LabPro® equipment by attaching the USB cable and Spirometer Sensor with flow head to the Vernier LabPro® Interface.
Connect the opposite end of the USB cable to the computer and launch the LoggerPro Software.
Connect a disposable bacterial filter and a disposable bacterial filter to the clear plastic Flow Head on the side labeled “Inlet”.
Start the data collection using an interface and data-collection software on LoggerPro Software
Hold the Spirometer vertically and still, and have the participant breathe into the spirometer to trigger it.
Ensure that the participant is breathing only through his or her mouth by having him securely hold his nose with his thumb and forefinger, completely obstructing the airway through the nose.
The participant should then obtain their maximum inhalation and then exhale forcefully and very quickly into the Spirometer. Then, allow the participant to inhale and breathe normally.
Stop data collection and store the latest run.
Using the graph of this event, determine forced vital capacity.
Explain Qigong breathing exercise to participant and provide him or her with a sheet describing how to do this breathing exercise on his own time.
Qigong- Chinese breathing exercise
Have the participant inhale three times through the nose without exhaling. When inhaling for the first time, make sure that the arms are at their sides, and then lift them straight out in front, keeping the arms level with the shoulders for the first breath.
On the second breath, the arms should be open straight out in front, and then moved toward the sides.
For the third breath in the exercise, lift the arms up so that they are above the head, and then hold the position for a few seconds. As he or she exhales, hands can be moved back to starting position down at one’s sides.
Repeat this exercise (steps 1-3) 10 times.
Repeat steps 1-4 for 7 days in a row.
Repeat section i. Determine lung volume using a Spirometer
Repeat sections i. and ii. for all individuals.
Data Analysis
Collect data on an Excel Spreadsheet and perform a Two-Sample
T-Test in Minitab, in order to compare the initial and final results, as well as comparing different groups.
The data in the chart shows the initial forced vital capacity of each individual from the experimental groups. It also shows the experimented forced vital capacity value after a week of the participant performing the Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise, as well as the change between the initial and final results. The top graph is an example of the initial and final forced vital capacity results of a male choir member, showing how his capacity slightly increased. The bottom graph shows the initial and final forced vital capacity of a female cross country participant. Values highlighted in blue in the chart indicate those that are represented by the LoggerPro graphs to the right of the chart.
Two-Sample T-Test and CI: Forced Vital Capacity: Choir Change vs. Cross Country
Change
Two-sample T for FVC Change Choir vs. FVC Change Cross Country
N Mean StDev SE Mean
FVC Change Choir
FVC Change Cross
Difference = mu (FVC Change Choir) - mu (FVC Change Cross Country)
Estimate for difference:
95% CI for difference: ( , )
T-Test of difference = 0 (vs. not =): T-Value = P-Value = DF = 16
PHOTOS
This photo depicts examples of equipment used to record forced vital capacity.
The graph states that, in general, the cross country runners had a greater increase in forced vital capacity after performing the breathing exercise than the choir members did.
Conclusion
The data was analyzed after the completion of testing of the forced vital capacity of each participant before and after a week of each participant performing the Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise. As I hypothesized, the data analysis shows that the given breathing exercise did have a positive affect on the forced vital capacity of a great majority of the participants. However, the Two-Sample T-Tests also show that the forced vital capacity of each group of participants was not affected equally, thus supporting my hypothesis. The data analysis reveals that, in general, choir members had a much higher initial forced vital capacity than the athletes, namely the cross country runners. However, the given breathing exercise generally had a greater impact on increasing the forced vital capacity of each athlete than it did with the choir members. It can therefore be concluded that Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise can be a beneficial mechanism for enhancing the forced vital capacity of athletes.
This photo depicts a participant being tested for his final forced vital capacity reading.
This photo depicts participants performing the Qigong-Chinese breathing exercise.