title: Hatha yoga on body balance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A good body balance requires a proper function of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems which can be reach with exercise practice and/or yoga.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of a 5-month hatha yoga training program on body balance in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a controlled, nonrandomized design, where the experimental group underwent a 5-month training program and were then compared with the control group that had a sedentary lifestyle. A convenience sample of 34 out of 40 men aged 25-55 years old (34.0 ± 0.9) were deemed eligible for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: Experimental and control groups. Subjects in the experimental group were engaged in 60 min sessions of hatha yoga three times a week for 5 months. We evaluated postural control by measuring the limit of stability and velocity of oscillation (VOS) in three conditions of the balance rehabilitation unit (BRU) and through field procedures (four position, plane, flamingo, hopscotch, and dynamic test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed differences (P < 0.05) in postintervention scores between the groups regardless of BRU parameters and field procedures (except for flamingo) even after adjusting for preintervention scores, suggesting that these changes were induced by hatha yoga training. The partial eta squared on BRU parameters ranged from 0.78 (VOS1)-0.97 (COP2), and from 0.00 (flamingo)-0.94 (four position) for the field procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide substantial evidence that postural control in healthy young adults can be improved through practicing hatha yoga.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Anhanguera University, Master Program of Body Balance Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erick Tadeu
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Anhanguera University, Master Program of Body Balance Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Sao Paulo, Brazil ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Western Sao Paulo University, Medical School, Presidente Prudente, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vagner
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raso
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Anhanguera University, Master Program of Body Balance Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Coelho
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Scharlach
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Anhanguera University, Master Program of Body Balance Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Akemi
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kasse
keywords: Adults; balance; health; posture; yoga