Halappa Naveen G, Jha Kamlesh, U Vijayabanu, Singh Harishankar
Department of Yoga, School of Yoga, Naturopathy and Cognitive Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, IND.
Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND.
Cureus. 2023 Sep 6;15(9):e44797. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44797. eCollection 2023 Sep.
Athletes are vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries and psychiatric conditions. Previous studies have reported the benefits of yoga on cognitive functions among healthy children, adults, and the elderly. This pilot study aimed to test the neurocognitive functions among athletes with/without yoga intervention.
A non-randomized, two-armed parallel-group, single-blind comparative trial was used. The participants were grouped into (i) yoga with sports activity (YSA, n = 15) and (ii) sports activity alone (SA, n = 14). The subjects were assessed at the baseline and after a one-month intervention using digit span forward (DSF), digit span backward (DSB), Trail Making Test (TMT) A & B, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). A comprehensive one-hour yoga training three days a week for two months constitutes selected asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), relaxation techniques, and meditation techniques. The control group constitutes the routine sports activity for the same period.
A paired sample t-test showed a significant improvement in cognitive performance on TMT A & B duration and RAVLT total score in the YSA group compared with the SA group. However, a significant trend was observed for DSF, DSB, and RAVLT immediate recall. Independent sample t-test (pre-post change scores) showed no significant group difference in cognitive performance, except there was a significant trend observed related to DSF (p = 0.053) and RAVLT distraction (p = 0.09), where the yoga group showed better performance in cognitive functions.
The results suggest that yoga may be integrated with sports to enhance neurocognitive functions.
运动员易患肌肉骨骼损伤和精神疾病。先前的研究报告了瑜伽对健康儿童、成年人和老年人认知功能的益处。这项初步研究旨在测试有无瑜伽干预的运动员的神经认知功能。
采用非随机、双臂平行组、单盲对照试验。参与者被分为两组：（i）瑜伽与体育活动组（YSA，n = 15）和（ii）单纯体育活动组（SA，n = 14）。在基线时和为期一个月的干预后，使用数字顺背（DSF）、数字倒背（DSB）、连线测验（TMT）A和B以及雷伊听觉词语学习测验（RAVLT）对受试者进行评估。每周三天、为期两个月的一小时综合瑜伽训练包括选定的体式（姿势）、调息法（呼吸技巧）、放松技巧和冥想技巧。对照组为同期的常规体育活动。
配对样本t检验显示，与SA组相比，YSA组在TMT A和B的持续时间以及RAVLT总分的认知表现上有显著改善。然而，在DSF、DSB和RAVLT即时回忆方面观察到显著趋势。独立样本t检验（前后变化分数）显示，除了在DSF（p = 0.053）和RAVLT分心方面（p = 0.09）观察到显著趋势外，两组在认知表现上没有显著差异，其中瑜伽组在认知功能方面表现更好。
结果表明，瑜伽可与运动相结合以增强神经认知功能。
