A randomized controlled pilot study of the effects of 6-week high intensity hatha yoga protocol on health-related outcomes among students.
Author: Papp ME1, Nygren-Bonnier M2, Gullstrand L3, Wändell PE4, Lindfors P5
Affiliation:
1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care Sweden. Electronic address: marian.papp@ki.se.
2Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
3University of Gothenburg, Department of Nutrition, Health and Sport Science, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
4Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care Sweden.
5Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Frescati Hagväg 14, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
Conference/Journal: J Bodyw Mov Ther.
Date published: 2019 Oct
Other:
Volume ID: 23 , Issue ID: 4 , Pages: 766-772 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.05.013. Epub 2019 May 15. , Word Count: 263
OBJECTIVE: Modern hatha yoga exercises (YE) provide an alternative form of physical activity which may reduce stress, facilitate recovery and improve health. This study investigated the short-term effects of high intensity hatha yoga exercises (HIY) on health-related outcomes.
METHODS: A 6-week randomized controlled study was performed to compare HIY with a control group not changing their exercise behavior. Healthy students (N = 44; median age: 25 years, range 20-39 years; HIY: n = 21, including 3 men; control group: n = 23, including 3 men) novice to yoga participated in the intervention which included one weekly class and recommended home training. Participants provided self-reports in questionnaires before and after the intervention. Self-reports included anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index), subjective health complaints (Common Symptoms in General Practice Index) and self-rated health (single-item).
RESULTS: After the 6-week intervention, there were no between-group differences in anxiety, depression, stress, sleep or self-rated health. However, when investigating associations within the HIY-group, a higher HIY-dose was related to less depression (r = 0.47; p = 0.03), improved sleep quality (r = 0.55; p = 0.01), and less insomnia (r = 0.49; p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS: There were no short-term between-group effects of HIY on mental distress, sleep or self-rated health. However, within the HIY-group, a higher dose was associated with improved mental health in terms of depression and with improved sleep. Although future studies with larger samples are needed, these preliminary findings suggest short-term positive effects of HIY on health-related outcomes among students.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01305096.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Anxiety; Depression; Sleep; Stress; Students
PMID: 31733760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.05.013
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