Influence of Yoga intervention on flexibility and postural balance of university level Contemporary dancers / Pooja Naik (2023)

For a long time, dancers have been focused on skill/technique training as the sole form of training for development of performance. Over the years there has been increasing awareness on improvement in physical fitness, performance enhancement and injury prevention. More dancers have been undertaking supplementary training to aid performance and address individual concerns. Yoga being one of the more popular forms of supplemental training among dancers, its viewed as a method for stretching, recovery, improving flexibility, conditioning. Thus, this study aimed to objectively analyse the effect of a six-week intervention of selected yoga styles and postures on the ROM and postural stability of the participants (n=10). Participants engaged in 2 sessions per week of Hatha yoga and Yin yoga over six weeks. Three rounds of testing were conducted to measure the active ROM of the lumbar, cervical, and shoulder joint along with Straight Leg Raise test using a digital goniometer. 2D Analysis of développé in the front, side and back direction and Sit & Reach box test was conducted to measure active hamstring flexibility. TekScan HR Pressure mat was utilised to record CoF parameters (Area, RMS Velocity) to determine postural stability in six variations: 1. Both feet, eyes closed, 2. Single leg, Eyes Open, 3. Single leg, foam mat, 4. Single leg, eyes closed, 5. Développé exercise, 6. Plié exercise. For all the test measurements, an average of three trials per variation was taken for final values. Results of RMANOVA across three time points (two baselines and post-intervention) showed significant differences in ROM of shoulder flexion (right shoulder, F(2,16) = 3.71, p = .047, η_p^2 = .368 and for left shoulder, F(2,16) = 5.82, p=.013, η_p^2 =.421), cervical extension (F(2,18) = 5.42, p=.014, η_p^2 =.376), cervical lateral flexion to the left (F(2), 11.5, p=.003), cervical rotation to the right (F(2,18)= 6.71, p=.007, η_p^2 =.427) (p < .05). Significant results were observed for SLR test on both legs (Right Leg: F(2,18)= 6.62, p=.007, η_p^2 =.424; Left Leg: F(2), 11.5, p=.003), développé to the front on right standing leg (F(2,18)= 12.8, p,.001, η_p^2 =.587), développé to the side (Right: F(2,18)= 5.84, p=.011, η_p^2 =.393; Left: F(2,18)= 6.16, p=.009, η_p^2 = .406), développé to the back on left standing leg (F(2) = 7.2 and p=.027) (p < .05). For the CoF parameters, CoFarea did not show any significant result and CoFRMSV in three variations, 1. Both feet, eyes closed (F(2,18)= 5.37, p=.015, η_p^2 = .374), 2. Développé left leg standing (F (2) = 8.6 and p = .014), 3. Plie exercise (F (2) = 8.6 and p = .014) showed statistically significant results (p < .05). For the remaining parameters, a mixed set of results was obtained which may be due to a small sample size. The significant and insignificant trends are observationally discussed to explore the results for a deeper investigation. The results from this study inform the dance population of the possible effects of yoga practice on joint ROM and balance ability. Suggestions for future research with experimenting the frequency of sessions and length of intervention, possibilities of increasing load/resistance during exercises and more dance-specific testing methodologies have been discussed.