Stretching and Yoga Exercise Study

NCT01650532 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UIUC_IRB_12362
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 118
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators propose to test the effects of an 8-week supervised, site-based, group yoga intervention on cognition and functional fitness in older adults. The SAY Exercise study will compare the yoga group to a stretching group to determine if the program improves attention and cognition, reduces functional limitations, enhances functional performance in everyday activities, as well as psychological health in sedentary older adults between 55-80 years of age. The investigators also propose to assess heart rate variability using a 3-lead EKG and salivary cortisol levels to understand the moderators of the yoga-cognition relationship.

Conditions

Aging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in cognition as assessed by a neuropsychological battery of computer based and paper pencil tests from baseline to 8 weeks

  Participants will complete a neuropsychological battery of tasks assessing memory, attention, decision making at baseline (before beginning the program) and at week 8 (after completing the exercise program).

  Baseline - 8 week

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in functional fitness from baseline to 8 weeks

  Baseline - 8 week

• Change in psychosocial outcomes from baseline to 8 weeks

  Baseline - 8 week

• Change in salivary cortisol from baseline to 8 weeks

  Baseline - week 8

• Change in heart rate variability from baseline to 8-weeks

  Baseline - 8 week

Study Arms (2)

Yoga Condition

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be instructed to learn yoga postures as well as yoga based breathing and meditative practices by certified yoga instructors. Primary Hatha yoga postures will be performed using props like yoga mats, blocks, belts and blankets. Classes will be held 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

Behavioral: Yoga Condition

Stretching Condition

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Exercises focusing on stretching and strengthening for all muscle groups will be performed at one-hour long sessions held 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Classes are led by trained exercise specialists.

Behavioral: Stretching Condition

Interventions

Yoga Condition BEHAVIORAL

Classes lasting one hour, held 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Yoga Condition

Stretching Condition BEHAVIORAL

Classes lasting one hour, held 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Stretching Condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• yrs of age
• Low active: zero to two days of physical activity (\>30 minutes per day) per week, in previous six months
• Personal physicians consent to participate in testing and exercise intervention
• Not involved in any other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study.
• Adequate responses to the Telephone interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) questionnaire
• Corrected (near and far) acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes
• Initial depression score on GDS-15 below clinical levels (\>5)
• Able to get up and down from the floor
• Comfortable with reading, writing and speaking English

You may not qualify if:

• Below 55 or over 80 years of age
• High physical activity levels (more than 2 times per week, \>30 minutes, in the last 6 months)
• Regular yoga practitioners (previously or currently practicing for more than 6 months)
• Involved in other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study
• Non-consent of the physician
• Inadequate response on the GDS-15 and TICS-M
• Uncorrected (near and far) acuity of greater than 20/40 in either eye
• Inability to communicate effectively in English
• Intent to be away from the area for a long period of time resulting in more than 2 absences at the exercise sessions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Gothe NP, Keswani RK, McAuley E. Yoga practice improves executive function by attenuating stress levels. Biol Psychol. 2016 Dec;121(Pt A):109-116. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Oct 26.

  PMID: 27794449 DERIVED

• Gothe NP, McAuley E. Yoga Is as Good as Stretching-Strengthening Exercises in Improving Functional Fitness Outcomes: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2016 Mar;71(3):406-11. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glv127. Epub 2015 Aug 22.

  PMID: 26297940 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Edward McAuley, PhD

  University of Illinois at Chicago

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2012
• First Posted: July 26, 2012
• Study Start: May 1, 2012
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2013
• Study Completion: March 1, 2013
• Last Updated: February 23, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)