Effects of yoga on flexibility and balance: a quasi-experimental study

Kh Shafiur Rahaman,Md Bakhtiar,Shah Noman Md Iftekher

doi:10.3329/ajmbr.v3i2.33580

Abstract

Despite having number of health benefits, yoga also has a proven role in enhancing performance of athletes boosting specific components of fitness. Our aim was to study the effect of yoga on flexibility and balance among shooting trainee athletes at BKSP, Bangladesh. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among shooting trainee athletes. In total 20 athletes took part in this study. In each group we had 10 participants (10 in yoga group and other 10 in non-yoga group). Regular yoga session have been conducted early morning biweekly over a period of six weeks. All the participants were allowed to take part in regular training session, while only yoga group took part in additional yoga session. Measurements of flexibility and balance including Sit and Reach (SR) test and Stork Stand (SR) test were taken immediately before and after the yoga training period. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to determine the significant effect of yoga within and between the groups before and after yoga training. Sixty percent of our participants were male. Participants age were between 12-17 years. All of them had normal level of BMI. Significant improvement were observed in the yoga group for flexibility (SR, P=0.017) and balance (SS, P=0.004) during within group comparison. No significant improvement were seen for flexibility and balance in the non-yoga group. Between group comparison (Yoga and Non-yoga) also shows significant enhancement in both flexibility (SR, P=0.018) and balance (SS, P=0.021).Our findings helped us to conclude that regular yoga training may improve the balance and flexibility of shooting athletes even within short period of time (6 weeks), can also improve the athletic performances that demands high flexibility and balance.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2017, 3(2): 276-281

Highlights

Regular practice of yoga has numerous health benefits (Wolff et al, 2013; Pal et al, 2011; McDermott et al, 2014; Parikh et al, 2014)
In yoga group, according to the test performed before and after yoga training, significant difference (P=0.017) were found in the score and the mean difference was -2.00. This implies that an average of 2 inches of flexibility has increased among yoga group participants after the training
No significant difference in the mean score of flexibility test were observed among the non-yoga group participants (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Regular practice of yoga has numerous health benefits (Wolff et al, 2013; Pal et al, 2011; McDermott et al, 2014; Parikh et al, 2014). Yoga brings positive changes in physical performance and well-being if practiced regularly (Akhtar et al, 2013; Ross and Thomas, 2010) by improving flexibility and balance (Boehde et al, 2005) as well as cardiovascular functions (Bera and Rajapurkar, 1993). Yoga may have direct link to improve the common elements of athletic performance (Harrelson and Swann, 2003). It is evident that yoga can be an important element of training program along with the other regular traditional exercise or even may replace those (Broad, 2012). Regular yoga practice results in enhanced flexibility very rapidly as this process involves gentle stretching of muscle, connective tissues around bones and joints (Woodyard, 2011). Yoga has profound effect on balance, muscular strength, endurance and coordination because of its highly structural activity and involvement (Carrico, 1997)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion