Evaluation of effects of yoga Vs physical training on performance measure in school children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: newlineEducators, researchers, and health care providers working with children have long been newlineinterested in understanding what causes children with average intelligence to suffer from newlineacademic underachievement, particularly when these academic difficulties are not the newlineresult of physical, social and environmental factors. The stress to perform and its newlineaccompanying physiological and behavioral stress response can result in mood swings, newlineemotional distress, loss of sleep and cognitive impairment. Preliminary studies have also newlineshown both exercise and yoga to improve attention, memory and physical performance newlinein socially disadvantaged children when compared to dance. Studies have also shown newlinethat yoga practices that involve äsanas, breathing and meditation improve spatial newlinememory scores and show improvement in letter cancellation task and aerobic capacity. newlineHowever, these findings have limitations as they are from a small cohort of population newlinewith different approaches being used across studies. newlineAIM: newlineTo evaluate the effects of yoga program versus physical exercise on executive function newlineand physical performance measures in school children newlineOBJECTIVES: newline1. To evaluate the effects of yoga vs physical exercise on executive function such as newlineattention span, working memory and mental speed in higher primary and high newlineschool children in rural areas. newline2. To evaluate the effects of yoga vs physical exercise on cardio-respiratory fitness and newlinephysical performance, strength, balance and flexibility in higher primary and high newlineschool children in rural areas. METHODS: newlinePARTICIPANTS: newlineA total of 802 students were randomized to receive either yoga (n=411) or physical newlineactivity (n=391) intervention across ten schools. newlineINTERVENTION: newlineThe intervention group received daily yoga classes on school working days for a period newlineof two months of the study while the physical training group received a standard test of newlinephysical exercises to maintain physical fitness. newlineASSESSMENTS: newlineWere done before intervention and after two months of intervention. newlineDATA EXTRAC