Yoga and Aerobic Exercise Effects on Cognition

NCT ID: NCT04077645

Last Updated: 2025-08-24

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

71 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-09-01

Study Completion Date

2020-03-13

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this acute randomized control study is to assess the feasibility of a low-to-moderate intensity Yoga intervention (i.e. sun salutations), and examine its effect on cognitive functioning, compared to engaging in aerobic activity or seated rest. Participants will include individuals who are currently experiencing symptoms of psychosocial stress or general anxiety.

Detailed Description

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Eligible participants will be randomized to one of three groups: 1. Sun salutations (Yoga), 2. Aerobic exercise (walking on a treadmill), 3. Seated rest (watching educational videos). Each activity will be 30 minutes in duration. Immediately before and after the 30 minute intervention, participants will undergo psychosocial and cognitive assessments. Prior to the intervention, participant's physical activity will be tracked for one week, via a consumer grade accelerometer.

Baseline and post-intervention testing will include a cognitive battery, psychosocial questionnaires, flexibility testing and physiological measures.

Conditions

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Stress, Psychological

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Sun salutations

Sun salutations, breathing exercises, and relaxation, at a low to moderate intensity, for 30 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Sun salutations

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group will be asked to participate in 25 minutes of low-to-moderate intensity Yoga. This acute session will include engaging in sun salutations, breathing exercises and relaxation. Sun salutations involves performing 10 postures in a particular sequence, and then repeating that sequence. Some of the positions include bending over and touching one's toes, and lying belly-down on the ground and pushing up from ground while arching backwards. The activity will begin as a low intensity activity for the first 5 minutes, and the intensity will be gradually increased. Participants' heart rate will be measured before and after the intervention. The intervention will be delivered by a video displayed on a tablet device. An orientation session in the beginning will familiarize participants with the activity.

Aerobic exercise

Walking on a treadmill at low to moderate intensity for 30 minutes.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Aerobic exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group will be asked to walk on the treadmill for the same amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) at a moderate intensity (50-70% of their maximum heart rate). Participants will receive an initial 5-minute orientation and then begin at a self-selected speed for the first 5 minutes. Heart rate will be measured and monitored by an undergraduate research assistant. Speed will be increased after 5 minutes if participants have not reached the moderate zone. If participants still have not reached the target heart rate zone by the 10-min mark, the incline of the treadmill will be increased by a 5% grade until the zone is reached.

Seated rest (attentional control)

Watching educational videos for 30 minutes.

Group Type OTHER

Seated rest

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group will be watching educational videos for the same amount of time as the intervention groups. An orientation session of 5 minutes will be held in the beginning. Participants will be watching videos on general health related topics, such as healthy eating, while being seated in a quiet room, free of distractions.

Interventions

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Sun salutations

This group will be asked to participate in 25 minutes of low-to-moderate intensity Yoga. This acute session will include engaging in sun salutations, breathing exercises and relaxation. Sun salutations involves performing 10 postures in a particular sequence, and then repeating that sequence. Some of the positions include bending over and touching one's toes, and lying belly-down on the ground and pushing up from ground while arching backwards. The activity will begin as a low intensity activity for the first 5 minutes, and the intensity will be gradually increased. Participants' heart rate will be measured before and after the intervention. The intervention will be delivered by a video displayed on a tablet device. An orientation session in the beginning will familiarize participants with the activity.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Aerobic exercise

This group will be asked to walk on the treadmill for the same amount of time (i.e. 25 minutes) at a moderate intensity (50-70% of their maximum heart rate). Participants will receive an initial 5-minute orientation and then begin at a self-selected speed for the first 5 minutes. Heart rate will be measured and monitored by an undergraduate research assistant. Speed will be increased after 5 minutes if participants have not reached the moderate zone. If participants still have not reached the target heart rate zone by the 10-min mark, the incline of the treadmill will be increased by a 5% grade until the zone is reached.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Seated rest

This group will be watching educational videos for the same amount of time as the intervention groups. An orientation session of 5 minutes will be held in the beginning. Participants will be watching videos on general health related topics, such as healthy eating, while being seated in a quiet room, free of distractions.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Anyone between the ages of 18-45 years
* Anyone with a score of 3 or higher on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptom checklist of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5. That is, anyone meeting 3 or more symptoms, on more days of the week than not, for the past 6 months:

1\. Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge. 2. Being easily fatigued. 3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank. 4. Irritability. 5. Muscle tension. 6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).
* Ability to exercise at moderate to vigorous activity levels (defined as 50%-75% of the adjusted age-predicted maximum heart rate)
* Access to a smartphone and willingness to allow research staff to install a mobile activity tracker application (and space to allow for installation)
* Willingness to be randomized into one of three groups

Exclusion Criteria

* Anyone who is physically active (≥30 minutes, 2 or more times/week, for the last 3 months) and/or a regular practitioner of Yoga or mind-body activities (≥30 minutes, 2 or more times/week, for the last 3 months).
* Anyone with serious chronic medical conditions that would preclude them from participating without a physician present, or anyone with a risk of seizure, or anyone having psychiatric and/or neurological disorders.
* Anyone who does not consent to wearing the Fitbit, or does not have a smartphone that allows us to download an app on their phone.
* Pregnant women.
* Anyone incapable of performing the following movements at a moderate intensity- sitting, standing, kicking, pulling, pushing, bending one's elbows, bending the body forward, bending one's knees, lying down and getting up.
* Anyone with blood pressure of 200/105 or more, and anyone who scores 1 or more on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
* Anyone refusing or unwilling to be randomized into either of the conditions.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sean Mullen, PhD

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sean P Mullen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Madhura Phansikar, MA

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Locations

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Related Links

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http://exercisetechlab.com

Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory

Other Identifiers

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20067

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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