NCT04077645

Yoga and Aerobic Exercise Effects on Cognition

Examining the Association of Sun Salutations and Aerobic Exercise With Cognition Among Adults With Psychosocial Stress

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 71 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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

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

• Stress, Psychological

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	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.
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.
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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-09-01
• Primary completion: 2020-03-13
• Completion: 2020-03-13
• First posted: 2019-09-04
• Last updated: 2025-08-24
• Results posted: 2025-08-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States