Research on changes in posture, center of gravity, and body sway through yoga

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19608
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Asia University
• Principal Investigator: Shikanai Nao 亜細亜大学, 経営学部, 准教授 (20706816)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ヨガ / 気分 / 不安 / 重心動揺 / 重心軌跡 / オンライン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First, the subjective benefits of online yoga were examined. The results showed taht online yoga contributes to the acquisition of positive feelings. The effects of on-site yoga were then examined. The resutls found to reduce tension and anxiety, and also showed to potentially eliminate drowsiness and fatigue. On the other hand, there was a tendency for the standing posture of general students to change more than that of sports athletes students, especially the angle of the knees and the position of the acromion, but there was also a large individual difference and objective indicators could not be obtained. The results of yoga for high-anxious participants showed that there was a significant decrease in anxiety and center of gravity sway compared to the non-intervention group, although there was no difference between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Furthermore, it indicated that the center of gravity also changed. The reserach clarified relationships between psychological state and body sway.

Free Research Field

スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，新型コロナウイルス感染症拡大により，予定していた実験を一部変更せざるを得なかった。しかし，オンラインヨガの実験も行えたことで，オンサイトのみでは得られなかった効果を明らかにすることができた。そして，これまで先行研究で報告されてきた，ヨガが緊張や不安を低減するという効果の頑健性を示しただけでなく，同程度の強度であるウォーキングとの違いを示したことや，重心動揺の変化を明らかにした。これらは，ヨガの指導だけでなく，健康科学の分野に新たな知見を提供できたと考える。特に重心動揺や重心位置の変化に関する知見は，今後高齢者のふらつきや心因性めまい患者への運動療法の応用に寄与し得ると考えられる。