Effects of Yoga on Objective and Self-reported Health Indicators Among Female and Male Individuals

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stress, Psychological, Physiological
• Interventions: Other: Yoga intervention

• Registration Number: NCT01305096
• Lead Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether inversions (specific yoga postures in which the heart is higher than the head) and other dynamic and static yoga postures affect heart rate variability, oxygen uptake, blood pressure, blood parameters and other objective measures of health, and a variety of subjective and objective measures of health in female and male individuals in Sweden.

Detailed Description

This randomized, controlled trial involving 44 male and females in Sweden will investigate whether yoga inversions and semi-inversions and other dynamic and static yoga postures will affect the following variables: heart rate variability, oxygen uptake, anthropometric variables, common symptoms in general practice, sleepiness, sleep quality and recovery/recuperation after sleep, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood proteins, blood sugar, salivary cortisol, hand grip strength, relaxation and recovery perceived stress, self-rated health, rating of perceived exertion, satisfaction with life, and work-family conflict.

Participants will be divided into an intervention group and a passive control group. The intervention group will participate in six to ten weeks of yoga classes. The classes will be held 1-2 times a week for approximately one hour each and will include yoga poses and breathing techniques. The control group will not participate in any intervention but will conduct their lives as usual.

The variables will be assessed at baseline; at the end of the intervention; and three, six, and twelve months after the end of the intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2011-02-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-02-25
• Study First Posted: 2011-02-28
• Study Start: 2011-03
• Status Verified: 2014-10
• Primary Completion: 2014-10
• Study Completion: 2014-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-10-23
• Last Update Posted: 2014-10-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 44

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 20-40 years old

Exclusion Criteria

• Aged 40 or more years
• Takes medication for high blood pressure or other strong medication
• Recently had an operation
• Diagnosed with eye disease (e.g., glaucoma)
• Diagnosed with depression or burnout syndrome
• Diagnosed with serious back or neck problems
• Participates in intense physical activity more than once a week
• Has digestive problems such as acid reflux
• Serious disorder that affects the ability to do the yoga postures

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Yoga group	Yoga intervention	Participants in this group will take part in six to eight weeks of yoga classes. The classes will be held once a week and each class will be approximately one hour long. The classes will consist of yoga inversions, sun salutations and other yoga postures with deep breathing.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in heart rate variability	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in oxygen uptake	Baseline and at the end of the 8 week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in hand grip strength	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in measures of relaxation and recovery	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in these variables over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in perceived stress	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	The Perceived Stress Scale will be used to measure this variable. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in self-rated health	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in rating of perceived exertion	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in Apolipoproteins	Baseline and after the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in satisfaction with life	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	This variable will be measured with the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in level of work-family conflict	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	This variable will be measured with the Work-Family Conflict Scale. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in HbA1C	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in anthropometric variables	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	Anthropometric variables include height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index(BMI). We will measure the change in these variables over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in common symptoms in general practice	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will use the Common Symptoms in General Practice Index to measure how often over the past four weeks participants have experienced the fifteen most common health-related symptoms and complaints. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in level of sleepiness and measures of recovery or recuperation after sleep	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale will be used to measure this outcome variable. This scale measures degree of wakefulness at bedtime and after waking in the morning. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in blood pressure	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects at the end of the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.
Change in Adiponectin/Leptin ratio	Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention	We will measure the change in this variable over time. The first measurement will be at baseline and the second at the end of the 8-week intervention (main measurement). If and only if there are effects after the 8-week intervention, we will follow up the participants at various intervals to determine how long the effects are sustained. These follow-ups will be conducted 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the end of the intervention.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Karolinska Institute; 🇸🇪 Stockholm, Sweden