Positive Health Online

Abstract

DONOHUE and colleagues, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA,  donohueb@unlv.nevada.edu, have carried out a controlled trial of the effects of brief yoga exercises in long-distance runners.

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of two preparatory interventions on 1-mile run performance in 90 high school long distance runners.

Methodology

After participants had completed a 1-mile baseline run, they were randomly assigned to participate in either one of two interventions (brief yoga exercises, motivational shouting exercises) or a no intervention control condition. Experimental conditions were implemented one week after the baseline run about 20 minutes before a second 1-mile trial.

Results

Participants assigned to the motivational intervention improved their running performance significantly more than those assigned to the other two conditions. Although the magnitude of the effect was small, participants assigned to yoga exercises showed significant improvements in running performance relative to control condition participants. Consumer satisfaction ratings indicated that participants who were assigned to the motivational and yoga exercise groups liked their interventions more than those assigned to the control group.

Conclusion

Motivational and yoga interventions designed to improve long distance running performance were equally acceptable to the participants, but the motivational intervention had a greater effect.

References

Donohue B, Miller A, Beisecker M, Houser D, Valdez R, Tiller S, Taymar T. Effects of brief yoga exercises and motivational preparatory interventions in distance runners: results of a controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine 40 (1): 60-63, Jan 2006.