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. 2016 Jan-Jun;9(1):27-34.
doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.171710.

Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college athletes

M Jay Polsgrove  1 , Brandon M Eggleston  2 , Roch J Lockyer  3
Affiliations

Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college athletes

M Jay Polsgrove et al. Int J Yoga. 2016 Jan-Jun.

Abstract

Background: With clearer evidence of its benefits, coaches, and athletes may better see that yoga has a role in optimizing performance.

Aims: To determine the impact of yoga on male college athletes (N = 26).

Methods: Over a 10-week period, a yoga group (YG) of athletes (n = 14) took part in biweekly yoga sessions; while a nonyoga group (NYG) of athletes (n = 12) took part in no additional yoga activity. Performance measures were obtained immediately before and after this period. Measurements of flexibility and balance, included: Sit-reach (SR), shoulder flexibility (SF), and stork stand (SS); dynamic measurements consisted of joint angles (JA) measured during the performance of three distinct yoga positions (downward dog [DD]; right foot lunge [RFL]; chair [C]).

Results: Significant gains were observed in the YG for flexibility (SR, P = 0.01; SF, P = 0.03), and balance (SS, P = 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the NYG for flexibility and balance. Significantly, greater JA were observed in the YG for: RFL (dorsiflexion, l-ankle; P = 0.04), DD (extension, r-knee, P = 0.04; r-hip; P = 0.01; flexion, r-shoulder; P = 0.01) and C (flexion, r-knee; P = 0.01). Significant JA differences were observed in the NYG for: DD (flexion, r-knee, P = 0.01: r-hip, P = 0.05; r-shoulder, P = 0.03) and C (flexion r-knee, P = 0.01; extension, r-shoulder; P = 0.05). A between group comparison revealed the significant differences for: RFL (l-ankle; P = 0.01), DD (r-knee, P = 0.01; r-hip; P = 0.01), and C (r-shoulder, P = 0.02).

Conclusions: Results suggest that a regular yoga practice may increase the flexibility and balance as well as whole body measures of male college athletes and therefore, may enhance athletic performances that require these characteristics.

Keywords: Athletes; performance; training.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a-c) Positions for holistic measure of joint angles
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pre-post seat and reach averages (inches) for yoga group and nonyoga group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pre-post should flexibility averages (inches) for yoga group and nonyoga group
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pre-post stork stands averages (seconds) for yoga group and nonyoga group
Figure 5
Figure 5
Yoga group significant joint angle changes
Figure 6
Figure 6
Non yoga group significant joint angle changes
Figure 7
Figure 7
Average joint angle difference (degrees) in right foot lunge - yoga group and nonyoga group
Figure 8
Figure 8
Average joint angle difference (degrees) in downward dog - yoga group and nonyoga group
Figure 9
Figure 9
Average joint angle difference (degrees) in chair for yoga group and nonyoga group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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