Effect Of 4-Week Yoga Intervention on Selective Physical and Body Composition Variables in Indian Male Track and Field Athletes

Abstract

Background: Yoga is increasingly being incorporated into the training regimes of athletes. The aims of the present study were to understand the effects of practicing yoga for four weeks on selective physical and body composition variables on healthy young Indian male athletes participating in track and field events.Methods and materials: Nineteen male (n=19) competitive track and field athletes belong to Sports Authority of India (SAI), New Delhi, with their mean age 20±3 years and minimum 2 years of training experiences were randomly assigned to either an experimental (n=10) or to a control group (n=9). Outcome measures were taken on day 1 and day 28 which included quantification of selective physical and body composition variables following standard protocols. The experimental group practised yogic asanas and pranayamas an hour daily (6 days/ week) in the evening (4-5 PM) for a period of four weeks.Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight (p=0.002), fat free mass (p= 0.043) and increase in back strength (p= 0.028), flexibility (p=0.001) and vertical jump height (p= 0.007) in experimental group in comparison to the control one in between group comparison test. Also, significant reduction in body weight (p=0.003) and increase in back strength (p=0.000), flexibility (p=0.000), vertical jump height (p=0.005), agility (p=0.02) and balance (p=0.003) were observed in the experimental group in within group comparison test. Conclusion:This study would provide useful information that practising yoga for four weeks along with routine physical exercises regularly improved athlete's essential fitness components of sports performance.