Stretching and Yoga Exercise Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Aging
• Interventions: Behavioral: Stretching Condition; Behavioral: Yoga Condition

• Registration Number: NCT01650532
• Lead Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Brief Summary

The investigators propose to test the effects of an 8-week supervised, site-based, group yoga intervention on cognition and functional fitness in older adults. The SAY Exercise study will compare the yoga group to a stretching group to determine if the program improves attention and cognition, reduces functional limitations, enhances functional performance in everyday activities, as well as psychological health in sedentary older adults between 55-80 years of age. The investigators also propose to assess heart rate variability using a 3-lead EKG and salivary cortisol levels to understand the moderators of the yoga-cognition relationship.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-05
• Study First Submitted: 2012-07-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-07-25
• Study First Posted: 2012-07-26
• Primary Completion: 2013-03
• Study Completion: 2013-03
• Status Verified: 2017-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-02-21
• Last Update Posted: 2017-02-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 118

Inclusion Criteria

• 55-80 yrs of age
• Low active: zero to two days of physical activity (>30 minutes per day) per week, in previous six months
• Personal physicians consent to participate in testing and exercise intervention
• Not involved in any other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study.
• Adequate responses to the Telephone interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) questionnaire
• Corrected (near and far) acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes
• Initial depression score on GDS-15 below clinical levels (>5)
• Able to get up and down from the floor
• Comfortable with reading, writing and speaking English

Exclusion Criteria

• Below 55 or over 80 years of age
• High physical activity levels (more than 2 times per week, >30 minutes, in the last 6 months)
• Regular yoga practitioners (previously or currently practicing for more than 6 months)
• Involved in other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study
• Non-consent of the physician
• Inadequate response on the GDS-15 and TICS-M
• Uncorrected (near and far) acuity of greater than 20/40 in either eye
• Inability to communicate effectively in English
• Intent to be away from the area for a long period of time resulting in more than 2 absences at the exercise sessions

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Stretching Condition	Stretching Condition	Exercises focusing on stretching and strengthening for all muscle groups will be performed at one-hour long sessions held 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Classes are led by trained exercise specialists.
Yoga Condition	Yoga Condition	Participants will be instructed to learn yoga postures as well as yoga based breathing and meditative practices by certified yoga instructors. Primary Hatha yoga postures will be performed using props like yoga mats, blocks, belts and blankets. Classes will be held 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in cognition as assessed by a neuropsychological battery of computer based and paper pencil tests from baseline to 8 weeks	Baseline - 8 week	Participants will complete a neuropsychological battery of tasks assessing memory, attention, decision making at baseline (before beginning the program) and at week 8 (after completing the exercise program).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in salivary cortisol from baseline to 8 weeks	Baseline - week 8	Participants will be providing a small saliva sample via a passive drool into a vial. The compound of interest is cortisol (an indicator of body stress).
Change in functional fitness from baseline to 8 weeks	Baseline - 8 week	Participants will complete a battery of physical function tests assessing balance, flexibility, strength and mobility at baseline and week 8.
Change in psychosocial outcomes from baseline to 8 weeks	Baseline - 8 week	Participants will complete a packet of questionnaires assessing self-esteem, postitive and negative affect including anxiety and depression, self-efficacy and other psychosocial outcomes.
Change in heart rate variability from baseline to 8-weeks	Baseline - 8 week	The EKG for each participant will also be recorded in response to a 5 minute unpaced (normal) breathing and 5-minute paced (set to a metronome) breathing. All participants will complete these assessments at baseline and week 8.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; 🇺🇸 Urbana, Illinois, United States