Training and detraining management of performance measures by Yoga among middle-aged blue-collar men

Abstract

To observe the effect of yogasanas and yoga breathing maneuvers (YBM) on body flexibility, balance, muscular strength and reaction time on middle aged blue-collar individuals, 8 healthy blue collar, males (age 37±6.2 years) were trained in yoga for 12 weeks. First 6 weeks, they practiced mostly yogasanas. From 7^th week, progressively the YBM practice increased up to 12^th week. Their body flexibility, balance, maximal hand grip strength (HGS) and HGS endurance  at 50 % maximal strength for both hands, back -leg strength (BLS), reaction times for both visual (VRT) and auditory (ART) mode, were measured before and at the end of 6^th and 12^th weeks yoga training. Data was analysed by ANOVA. With more yogasanas practice, their body flexibility improved from base line 14.1±4.5 cm to 18.3±4.3 cm (P<0.001, magnitude 29.8%) after 6 weeks of yoga training.  With proportionately greater YBM practice, still it increased in lower magnitude (9.3%) to 20±4.6 cm (p<0.001) after 12 weeks of training. Balance showed similar pattern of changes like flexibility. In VRT, baseline value of 281.4±16.4ms reduced to 271.14±16.1 ms and 251.7±15.4 ms after 6 weeks and 12 weeks respectively, indicating greater reaction time improvement by YBM. ART also showed similar pattern of changes. Left and Right HGS endurance have improved by 19% and 23.1% respectively, after 6 weeks. BLS and HGS improved in small magnitude. Detraining and age related deterioration of body flexibility, balance, reaction time and strength endurance could be controlled by yogasanas. YBM have greater positive role in reaction time.