Effects of a 12-week yoga intervention on postural sway in rugby union players

Abstract

In an attempt to reduce the risk of injury that accompanies poor balance, many strength and conditioning coaches and trainers incorporate balance and postural control training into players' training regimes. However, relatively few balance interventions involve yoga. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a modified yoga programme on postural sway in rugby union players. Twenty-nine male rugby union players, (19 ± 1.3 years old, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to two groups: a yoga group (YG, n =15), which practiced yoga for one hour, two times a week alongside their regular rugby training, and a control group (CG, n = 14), which only participated in their standard rugby training. Postural sway was measured during various 30s balance activities at baseline (pre-season) and at the end of the 12-week playing season (post-season) on a force platform. The yoga group showed a significantly reduced sway signal in the 2-legged eyes closed balance test in the antero-posterior (-109.7% ± 82.9 mean ± 95% Cl, p-value < 0.005) and medial-lateral (-115.5% ± 92.1, p-value < 0.005) directions. However, no significant between-group change was found in the 1-legged eyes closed or 1 or 2-legged eyes open balance tests. The results suggest that practising yoga may reduce postural sway in specific directions which may improve balance in rugby union players.