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

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

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01305096
Enrollment
44
Registered
2011-02-28
Start date
2011-03-31
Completion date
2014-10-31
Last updated
2014-10-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological, Physiological

Keywords

heart rate variability, oxygen uptake, heart rate recovery, perceived stress, sleep, blood pressure, body mass index, body weight, hand grip strength, sleep quality, subjective health complaints, blood lipids, salivary cortisol, blood sugar, HbA1C, Adiponectin, Leptin, Adipolipoproteins, blood proteins, cytokines, insomnia, sleeplessness, yoga

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.

Interventions

OTHERYoga intervention

6 weeks of yoga postures, once a week for 60 minutes in a group session with a yoga teacher.

Sponsors

Region Stockholm
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
Stockholm University
CollaboratorOTHER
Karolinska Institutet
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in heart rate variabilityBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 uptakeBaseline and at the end of the 8 week interventionWe 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

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in level of sleepiness and measures of recovery or recuperation after sleepBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionThe 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 pressureBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 hand grip strengthBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 recoveryBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 stressBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionThe 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 healthBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 variablesBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionAnthropometric 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 satisfaction with lifeBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionThis 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 conflictBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionThis 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 HbA1CBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 ApolipoproteinsBaseline and after the 8-week interventionWe 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 Adiponectin/Leptin ratioBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 exertionBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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 common symptoms in general practiceBaseline and at the end of the 8-week interventionWe 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.

Countries

Sweden

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 3, 2026