Telerehabilitation-Based Yoga Versus Yoga-Pranayama in University Students

NCT07770139 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 2026-07-44
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will compare two online exercise programs for university students: yoga alone and yoga combined with breathing exercises called pranayama. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and will attend online sessions three times a week for four weeks. The study will examine whether these programs reduce anxiety and improve the mechanical properties of the neck muscles. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be measured using the MyotonPRO device. Anxiety and neck-related problems will also be assessed before and after the program. The study will also investigate whether adding pranayama breathing exercises provides greater benefits than yoga alone.

Conditions

Muscle Aches; Stress; Neck Disorders; Students

Keywords

students; muscle pain; stress; breathing; neck disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Muscle Tone (Hz)

  Muscle mechanical properties will be measured objectively and non-invasively using the MyotonPRO device. Measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles in the cervical region. During the assessments, participants will be positioned comfortably in either a supine or seated position according to a standardized protocol. Measurement sites will be identified using anatomical landmarks, and all measurements will be obtained from the same locations for each participant. For the upper trapezius muscle, the midpoint between the acromion and the spinous process of the C7 vertebra will be used as the reference point. For the sternocleidomastoid muscle, measurements will be taken from the midpoint of the muscle belly where it is most prominent. Oscillation Frequency \[Hz\] characterizes the intrinsic tension of biological soft tissues on the cellular level. The Oscillation Frequency of a muscle in its contracted state characterizes state of tension.

  During enrollment and after 4 week intervention.

• Muscle Stiffness (N/m)

  Muscle mechanical properties will be measured objectively and non-invasively using the MyotonPRO device. Measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles in the cervical region. During the assessments, participants will be positioned comfortably in either a supine or seated position according to a standardized protocol. Measurement sites will be identified using anatomical landmarks, and all measurements will be obtained from the same locations for each participant. For the upper trapezius muscle, the midpoint between the acromion and the spinous process of the C7 vertebra will be used as the reference point. For the sternocleidomastoid muscle, measurements will be taken from the midpoint of the muscle belly where it is most prominent. Dynamic Stiffness \[N/m\] characterizes the resistance of biological soft tissues to a force of deformation. The inverse of stiffness is compliance.

  During enrollment and after 4 week intervention.

• Muscle Elasticity (Logarithmic Decrement)

  Muscle mechanical properties will be measured objectively and non-invasively using the MyotonPRO device. Measurements will be performed on the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles in the cervical region. During the assessments, participants will be positioned comfortably in either a supine or seated position according to a standardized protocol. Measurement sites will be identified using anatomical landmarks, and all measurements will be obtained from the same locations for each participant. For the upper trapezius muscle, the midpoint between the acromion and the spinous process of the C7 vertebra will be used as the reference point. For the sternocleidomastoid muscle, measurements will be taken from the midpoint of the muscle belly where it is most prominent. The decrement of natural tissue oscillation serves as an inverse indicator of elastic behavior, where a higher decrement corresponds to lower elasticity. Logarithmic Decrement \[relative unit\]

  During enrollment and after 4 week intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• State Trait Anxiety Inventory

  During enrollment (baseline) and after the 4-week intervention.

• Neck Disability

  During enrollment (baseline) and after the 4-week intervention.

• Chest Expansion Measurement

  During enrollment (baseline) and after the 4-week intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Yoga

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Participants in the yoga group will complete a 30-minute exercise session.

Other: Exercise

Yoga-Pranayama

EXPERIMENTAL

Those in the yoga-pranayama group will receive a 40-minute intervention consisting of 30 minutes of yoga followed by 10 minutes of pranayama.

Other: Yoga-Pranayama

Interventions

Yoga-Pranayama OTHER

The interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Participants in the yoga group will complete a 30-minute exercise session, whereas those in the yoga-pranayama group will receive a 40-minute intervention consisting of 30 minutes of yoga followed by 10 minutes of pranayama.

Also known as: Exercise, Breathing Exercise

Yoga-Pranayama

Exercise OTHER

The interventions will be administered three times per week for four weeks. Participants in the yoga group will complete a 30-minute exercise session.

Also known as: Yoga

Yoga

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• University students aged 18-30 years
• Sedentary or lightly physically active individuals
• Ability to participate in online intervention sessions
• Willingness to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders
• Current use of psychotropic medications
• Acute musculoskeletal injury
• Advanced experience in yoga or meditation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Gelisim University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Gelisim University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Uebelacker LA, Broughton MK. Yoga for Depression and Anxiety: A Review of Published Research and Implications for Healthcare Providers. R I Med J (2013). 2016 Mar 1;99(3):20-2.

  PMID: 26929966 BACKGROUND

• Pascoe MC, Thompson DR, Ski CF. Yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Dec;86:152-168. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.08.008. Epub 2017 Aug 30.

  PMID: 28963884 BACKGROUND

• Gothe NP, Khan I, Hayes J, Erlenbach E, Damoiseaux JS. Yoga Effects on Brain Health: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature. Brain Plast. 2019 Dec 26;5(1):105-122. doi: 10.3233/BPL-190084.

  PMID: 31970064 BACKGROUND

• Sengupta P. Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State-of-the-Art Review. Int J Prev Med. 2012 Jul;3(7):444-58.

  PMID: 22891145 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myalgia; Respiratory Aspiration

Interventions

Breathing Exercises; Exercise; Yoga

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pathologic Processes

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Spiritual Therapies

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2026
• First Posted: August 18, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Last Updated: August 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)