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CompletedNCT02153385Updated Jun 4, 2014

Effects of Yoga on Heart Rate Variability and Mood in Women

An interventional study of Yoga in Heart Rate Variability, sponsored by Kaohsiung Medical University. Completed at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2014-06-04.

Sponsored by Kaohsiung Medical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
52
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Background: Women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, which have been linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV) and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week yoga program on HRV and mood in generally healthy women. The investigators hypothesized that there would be improvements in HRV and reductions in perceived stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety after the yoga intervention.

Methods: Fifty-two healthy women were randomized to either a yoga group or a control group. Participants in the yoga group completed an 8-week yoga program, which comprised a 60-minute session, twice a week. Each session consisted of breathing exercises, yoga pose practice, and supine meditation/relaxation. Participants' HRV, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and state and trait anxiety were assessed at baseline and week 9.

02

Conditions studied

  • Heart Rate Variability

Keywords

  • Yoga, heart rate variability, stress, mood, women
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Kaohsiung Medical University is the lead sponsor of 55 studies on the registry; 16 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • women
  • aged 18-50 years old
  • body mass index \< 30 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • currently engaged in regular yoga practice
  • pregnant
  • nursing
  • had physical contraindications to exercise
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
52 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Yoga group

    Two yoga sessions per week for 8 weeks

    Other: Yoga

  • No intervention
    Control group

    Usual level of physical activity; no involvement in any yoga practice during the course of the study

Interventions

  • OtherYoga

    Yoga program was 60 min per session, twice per week for 8 weeks. Led by an experienced yoga instructor.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in heart rate variability at week 9

    Heart rate variability analysis was derived from continuous heart rate recording, at a sampling rate of 1024 Hz, using an electrocardiogram (ECG) system (MP 150, BIOPAC Systems, Goleta, CA, USA). Participants were instructed to avoid exercise one day before the assessment session and abstain from caffeinated food and beverages on the day of assessment. During the assessment, participants were instructed to relax in a supine position with no other tasks or stimulation for 20 minutes while the ECG was recording. The last 10 minutes of the ECG recording was analyzed for HRV. R-R intervals were computed and the HRV power spectrum was obtained via a fast Fourier transformation algorithm using an appropriate software program (HRV Analysis for Windows, version 1.1; Biosignal Imaging Group and Analysis, the University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland).

    Time frame: The ourcome measure was assessed at baseline and at week 9

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Kaohsiung Medical University
    Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 4, 2014, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02153385
Lead sponsor
Kaohsiung Medical University
Responsible party
I-Hua Chu, PT, PhD (Assistant Professor, Kaohsiung Medical University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 3, 2014
Start date
Sep 2010
Primary completion
Jun 2011
Completion
Jun 2011
Last update
Jun 4, 2014

Study contacts

I-Hua Chu, PhD
principal investigator · Kaohsiung Medical University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2014. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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