Effect of Yogic Practices on Body Posture and its Correlation with Physical and Mental Health in Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: A state of physical and mental well-being affects posture through energy and balance. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to poor postural habits in children, putting them at risk for adverse health effects. This study attempts to demonstrate that yoga can prevent and correct postural alterations in childhood, the most crucial time for musculoskeletal development. Materials and Methods: This was a two-group pre-post study. A Randomized control trial with two arms was conducted. Based on the selection criteria, 200 students between 10 and 15 years were randomized into yoga and wait-list control (WLC) groups. For 3 months, the yoga group participated in a yoga program, while the WLC group engaged in routine activities. Physiological and psychological health assessments such as body posture (PostureScreen), Harvard step test (HST), physical activity questionnaire for older children (PAQ-C), patient health questionnaire (PHQ), body mass index (BMI), digit span test, emotion regulation questionnaire for children and adolescents (ERQ-CA), adolescent stress questionnaire, academic performance, and Vedic Personality Inventory (VPI) were collected before and after the 3-month study. Results: Five out of eight posture displacement parameters and physiological parameters (HST, PHQ, and BMI) were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in the posttest between-group comparison. There was a significant mean difference between groups for all psychological parameters except VPI-Sattva. Anterior and posterior displacements were significantly correlated to ERQ-CA, VPI-Rajas, and Sattva. Anterior translations and left and right lateral angulations were correlated to BMI, PAQ-C, and PHQ, respectively. Conclusion: The present study concludes that regular yoga practice from an early age can help establish a healthy posture. Body posture is shaped to a certain extent by underlying physical and emotional conditions affecting activities of daily living.