Abstract
Objectives:
This study investigated the effect of a brief, simple, home-based yoga program on body pain and health status in child-care workers.
Design:
This was a randomized, controlled trial comparing a home-based yoga group and a control group.
Participants:
The trial comprised 98 healthy female nursery school and kindergarten teachers.
Interventions:
A DVD of a simple home-based yoga program was provided for a period of 2 weeks.
Outcome measures:
The primary outcome measure was the reported change in body pain at 2 weeks (after intervention) and 4 weeks (follow-up). The secondary outcome measure was the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ30) score and physical function.
Results:
The 67 yoga group participants reported improved menstrual pain at 4 weeks; menstrual pain was reduced from 57.0±27.8 to 37.8±26.7 in the yoga group, versus 52.4±36.5 to 46.9±32.1 in the control group (change from baseline in the yoga group versus change from baseline in the control group, −15.3 points; p=0.044). The total GHQ30 score and the GHQ subscale scores (“sleep disturbance” and “anxiety and dysphoria”) improved significantly at 4 weeks in the yoga group, but not in the control group. In the good-adherence group, low back pain improved during the intervention (p=0.006) and follow-up (p=0.001) periods. Menstrual pain was also improved (p=0.044). No adverse events were observed.
Conclusions:
A home-based simple yoga program may improve the health status of child-care workers.
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