Yoga, Immune Function, and Health

NCT ID: NCT00371397

Last Updated: 2016-07-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 52 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2008-09-30

Brief Summary

This study is designed to examine the impact of hatha yoga on immune and hormonal functioning in healthy individuals.

Detailed Description

This study is designed to examine the effects of hatha yoga on autonomic, immune, and endocrine function. The data from both inexperienced and experienced groups will help us better understand how longer-term practice of yoga may be beneficial. The study consists of one 3-hour screening session and three 6-hour activity sessions with 30 minute follow-up appointments the following morning scheduled 2 - 4 weeks apart. Each participant will complete the 3 activity sessions, which will consist of either yoga, mild movement, or a neutral activity (watching a videotape), in randomly assigned order. Thus, both novices and experts will participate in 3 activity sessions each (yoga, movement control, video control). The order in which each participant goes through the activity sessions is counterbalanced. Data for each activity session will be aggregated by group (i.e. novice or expert). We will measure responses to tape stripping to assess skin barrier repair, and evaluate responses to computer tasks, self-report measures, and a battery of unobtrusive behavioral measures. We will also collect blood and saliva samples to measure immune and endocrine outcomes.

Conditions

Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Hatha yoga classes

Groups consisted of novices or experts. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Hatha Yoga Classes

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Iyengar yoga, the form of hatha yoga used in this study, emphasizes the use of props to help students achieve precise postures safely and comfortably according to their particular body types and needs. The yoga activity sessions were directed by four experienced yoga teachers following a script. The poses used were (in order) Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog), Supported Uttanasana (Intense Forward Stretch), Parsvotanasana (Intense Side Stretch Pose), Prasarita Padottanansana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend), Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose), Bharadvajasana (Simple Seated Twist Pose), Viparita Karani (Restful Inversion), Supported Setu Bandha Sarvanagasana (Bridge Pose), and Savasana (Corpse Pose). Blood draws occurred during the last two minutes of Supta Baddha Konasana (pose held 10 minutes), Viparita Karani (10 minutes), and Savasana (15 minutes).

Movement Control

Non-Hatha yoga gentle movement. Groups consisted of novices or experts. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Movement Control

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Walking on a treadmill at .5 miles per hour was used to control for general physical movement/cardiovascular expenditure because it best approximated the heart rates during the restorative yoga session. To match the lower heart rate, women also rested supine on a bed for several minutes after walking, before and after getting their blood drawn.

Passive Video Control

Another control condition, a neutral video that did not include any music, allowed us to contrast the effects of yoga with no activity.The session included a sequence on how to design physics experiments for a high school classroom, as well as segments from two lectures on polymers and quantum mechanics. Groups were counterbalanced to ensure that equal number of novices and experts participated in each possible session combination, in a randomly assigned order.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Hatha Yoga Classes

Iyengar yoga, the form of hatha yoga used in this study, emphasizes the use of props to help students achieve precise postures safely and comfortably according to their particular body types and needs. The yoga activity sessions were directed by four experienced yoga teachers following a script. The poses used were (in order) Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog), Supported Uttanasana (Intense Forward Stretch), Parsvotanasana (Intense Side Stretch Pose), Prasarita Padottanansana (Wide-Legged Forward Bend), Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose), Bharadvajasana (Simple Seated Twist Pose), Viparita Karani (Restful Inversion), Supported Setu Bandha Sarvanagasana (Bridge Pose), and Savasana (Corpse Pose). Blood draws occurred during the last two minutes of Supta Baddha Konasana (pose held 10 minutes), Viparita Karani (10 minutes), and Savasana (15 minutes).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Movement Control

Walking on a treadmill at .5 miles per hour was used to control for general physical movement/cardiovascular expenditure because it best approximated the heart rates during the restorative yoga session. To match the lower heart rate, women also rested supine on a bed for several minutes after walking, before and after getting their blood drawn.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy female adults
• relatively inexperienced with yoga (beginner)
• experienced with yoga (advanced practitioner)

Exclusion Criteria

• Treatment with medication that has immunological or endocrinological consequences
• Chronic health problems that affect immune or endocrine systems
• Anemia
• Use of psychoactive drugs or mood-altering medication
• Smoking
• Needle or blood phobias
• Tape or bandage allergies
• Pregnancy or nursing within the previous 3 months
• Heart problems
• History of hip or knee replacement surgery, displaced vertebrae, and any other physical limitations that would prevent full participation in the program
• use of statins, beta blockers
• excessive alcohol use
• convulsive disorders
• Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Ohio State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Janice Kiecolt-Glaser

Director, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ohio State University

Locations

Ohio State University Clinical Research Center

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Countries

United States

References

Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Christian L, Preston H, Houts CR, Malarkey WB, Emery CF, Glaser R. Stress, inflammation, and yoga practice. Psychosom Med. 2010 Feb;72(2):113-21. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181cb9377. Epub 2010 Jan 11.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 20064902 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

http://www.stressandhealth.org

Please click here to visit our website if you would like to read more about our studies.

Other Identifiers

R21AT002971-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2005H0068

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id