Effects of Yoga Training on Core Stability and Respiratory Muscles in Female Dancers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of yoga training on core stability and diaphragm capability among female dancers following 18-week training lessons. A total of 26 female dancers were equally separated into two groups, including the experimental group and control group. Participants in experimental group trained with regular program along with additional 18-week yoga training lessons. The dancers in control group trained only with regular program. All participants took the core stability tests and diaphragm capability tests before and after 18-week yoga training. Core stability tests, including bridge test, bridge test with raising right leg and bridge test with raising left leg. Diaphragm capability tests consisted of thickness of diaphragm while exhaling, thickness of diaphragm while inhaling and diaphragmatic thickening rate. The results showed that for core stability tests, bridge test and bridge test with raising right leg had no significant differences between pre- and post-intervention of training in both groups. However, bridge test with raising left leg was significantly different between pre- and post-intervention in the experiment group. The core stability of experimental group was significantly better than the control group. The results of diaphragm capability tests showed that thickness of diaphragm while exhaling was not significantly different between baseline and post-intervention of two groups. Nevertheless, thickness of diaphragm while inhaling and diaphragmatic thickening rate were significantly different between the baseline and post-intervention in the experiment group. The diaphragm capacity for experiment group was significantly higher than the control group. There was no significant effect on core muscles performance among dancer, even after 18-week of yoga training lessons, but it could enhance the diaphragm capability.