European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science
ISSN: 2501 - 1235
ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235
Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu
10.6084/m9.figshare.3382816
Volume 1│Issue 2│2016
THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES
ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY
AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Neda Ghadimi1, Mina Bikdeli1, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand2,
Behnaz Ganji Samin3, Elham Shirzad4
MSc Sport Pathology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
1
MSc Sport Biomechanics, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
2
Ph.D Sport Pathology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,
3
Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
Department of Sport Biomechanics, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,
4
Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to discuss the effects of stability and cognitive yoga
exercises on certain kinematics of gaiting and life quality among active elderly women.
The population of this research includes 100 women aged between 61 and 88 years who
inhabit in Karaj’s Kahrizak nursing home. Among the population, 30 individuals
matched our research criterions and therefore, they were selected as the sample of the
research in a random sampling method. The age of subjects ranged between 63 to 83
years. In addition, their height ranged between 139.5 to 160 cm and also their weight
ranged between 48 to 88 kilograms. Kinematics of gaiting was evaluated beforehand to
participation in exercise protocols. Afterwards, the subjects of the experimental group
were administered 24 sessions of exercise and after the exercises, the kinematics of
gaiting was measured again. On the other hand, the control group also undertook
morning exercises under the supervision of the coach of the facility. The collected
statistical data were processed with independent and dependent t-tests and also for the
purpose of assuring a normal data distribution, the Shapiro test was performed at a
confidence level of P= 0.05. Results indicated that after eight weeks of performing
stability and cognitive yoga trainings, the lengths of the right and left paces and also the
pace speed were significantly improved and increased among elderlies. The variables of
life quality, stance time and swing time and pace frequency were also significantly
Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved
Published by Open Access Publishing Group ©2015.
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
increased among the experimental group. However, this increase was not significant
compared with the control group.
Keywords: yoga, kinematics, gaiting, life quality, elderly
Introduction
Elderly is the absolute destiny of every human being on earth. Among the consequences
of growth of age and entering the elderly ages, it can be referred to reduced moving
speed, function weakness and disorders and reduction of strength with an increasing
trend of 1% per year (from the fourth quarter of life on) (Ghasempoor, 2013). Previous
studies have shown that almost 50 percent of the negative outcomes of elderly ages are
mostly related to lack of physical activity. According to previous researches, having a
negative attitude towards physical activity during the elderly ages, the age grading for
exercising in addition to retirement and reduction of income may result in lack of
efforts for physical activity among elderlies. In other words, as people age, their
tendency for engaging in sports activities diminishes (Shojaei, 2007).
Falling down is one of the elderlies’ major cause of death. In such a way that
more than 11 thousand people die annually because of falling sown. Nowadays spread
of falling down in elderlies has become a serious problem for their health. 35 to 45
percent of healthy people more than 65 years of age experience falling at least once a
year (Azimzadeh et.al, 2012). In addition, by an increase in age not only the number of
fallings grows, but also the intensity of damages increases (Denoronba Ribera Daniel,
2011). The serious damages caused by falling down include femoral fracture, subdural
and hematoma bleeding, bruise, torsion joints, muscle cramps, death, psychological
effects. Fear of falling down causes the loss of self-confidence and restriction in
performance (Hassani Mehraban et.al 2011).
World Health Organization has defined life quality as a person’s understanding
of life, values, goals, standards and interests. Also in the recent years the implication of
life quality concept is used as an important indicator in medical and nursing researches
about life to evaluate decision making personal health and judging the society’s general
health and finding the major problems in the different aspects of people’s lives which is
the reason for security, preservation and an crease in health rate and welfare and
personal life quality (Hekmatpour et.al, 2012; Jafarzadeh et al. 2010).
20 to 30 percent of the people who fall down face average to serious damages
which includes cuts, hip fracture and head damages and these damages make it
difficult for these people to live an independent life. Falling down is the most common
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GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
reason in brain damages and early death. In 2010, twenty two thousand and nine
hundred people passed away because of falling down. Based on the statistics, deaths
caused by falling down were 41 percent more in men than women. In 2012 the direct
medical expenses related to falling down were estimated over 30 billion dollars (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012).
It has been reported that exercise therapy for the lower body causes ability
improvement and capacity of muscle power production and flexibility which have an
important role in gaiting (Sadeghi et al. 2011).
Falling usually means a sudden change in position which ends by falling on the
ground which is the main reason for fractures which causes physical consequences
especially people with Osteoporosis (Vertebral fractures of the spine, pelvis, leg bone,
wrist and disablement, losing physical ability and death), mental effects (losing selfconfidence, self-esteem, reduction of life expectancy, reliance on other people, change of
life style to inactivity and exorbitant caution), financial issues (spending high medical
costs) and becoming crippled (Sadeghi et.al 2008).
Yoga is suitable to prevent and control special diseases which are more common
in the elderlies and enables the person to make connections to their inner selves and this
is the time when the person accepts themselves as the very way they are and in leads to
a positive viewpoint to life. Yoga exercises with awareness of physical condition,
respiratory condition, stress release and preventing joint stiffness help maintaining
balance and can delay the phenomenon or process of aging in body tissues or even
invert its track. Elderlies mostly have lack of awareness about their respiratory levels,
body structure changes by aging, flexibility decreases, diseases are cured slower and
diseases like diabetes, heart failures, high levels of cholesterol and respiratory problems
happen (Ashtiani 2007). Another important point is that in many books and articles
related to elderlies doing activities such as swimming; jogging, gardening, tai chi
exercises, etc. have been insisted. Because a small percentage of elderlies turn to
jogging, swimming and other kinds of sports after they are inflicted with cardiovascular
problems or other serious illnesses (Raymond Harris 2000).
Considering that in our country because of cultural and social factors and
financial problems elderlies turn to these exercises less, the necessity of performing
yoga as one of the best actions that most of elderlies can perform in any time and place
with decreasing the damage risk becomes clear. Considering that elderlies population
has a faster growth compared to the general population elderly’s population growth
rate is 1.9 percent, which is considerably more than 1.2 general population growth
rates) (Salmand Website).
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Considering that preventing posture weaknesses and improving gating pattern causes
preventing probable falling down of the elderlies and helping them toward a better
performance of daily chores, the researcher has tried to clarify the probable impact of
yoga and special exercises on improving gaiting factors and life quality and by
generalizing it prepare the background of encouragement to start or continue the
physical activities in this valuable group of society. It is hoped that the results of this
research would be effective in presenting movement patterns for the elderlies, become
considered as a preventing factor of elderlies’ serious damages which may cause death
or medical expenses, be used in nursing homes and sports federations and by
recognizing strength and weaknesses help the coaches and experts in preparing more
inclusive programs.
Most of the common exercise ways which have been used in the previous
researches to eliminate these problems of elderlies include physical exercises and
activities such as stretching exercises, strength trainings, and aerobic endurance or a
combination of these exercises. The purpose of researches about aging is to increase the
beneficial and effective years of age and by exercising and organized movements
expands the active period in the aging time. Yoga exercises can have a positive effect on
flexibility and improving the range of motion in joints and maintain balance. Now, with
respect to the aforementioned content, the present research is aimed at providing an
answer to the question that if an eight-weeks program of stability and cognitive yoga
exercises can have any significant impact on certain kinematics of gaiting and quality of
life among active elderly women through making a connection between the human
mind and body or not?
Material and Methods
This research is a semi-experimental study and the selected design includes a pretest,
posttest and a control group.
The population of the present research includes 100 elderly women aged
between 60-85 years who inhabit in Karaj, Kahrizak nursing home. Among the
population, 30 individuals were identified as matches with research criterions and
therefore, under a random sampling method, the aforementioned 30 individuals were
selected as the sample of the study.
Data collection instruments included:
1. Demographic data collection forms;
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GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
2. Agreement forms which discussed exercising and video capturing methods in
pre and posttest stages. In addition, individuals used to fill the forms after
studying them;
3. The form of exclusion or inclusion criterions which were filled with the help of
an aiding physician;
4. Forms of collecting data related to posttest and pretest including health status,
pace length, pace speed, pace frequency, pace swing time and pace stance time;
5. The SF-36 questionnaire; a self-reporting questionnaire which is mainly
developed for investigation of status of life and health. This questionnaire was
developed by Ware and Sherburne and includes 36 components and also
evaluates 8 contexts including physical performance, social performance,
physical role playing, emotional role playing, mental health, liveliness, physical
pain and general health status.
6. A Sony ZR200 full-HD video capturing camera with a shutter speed of 250ms
and ability for capturing up to 120 frames per second;
7. The software of Kinovea 2013 for analysis of data.
After making the necessary arrangements with the nursing home of Karaj,
Kahrizak, a number of 30 healthy elderlies were selected under availability random
sampling methods. The test subjects were first approved by expert physicians for
making presence in exercises and tests, after wards, the questionnaires of demographic
information and sports information were handed to participants along with an
agreement form. Among the selected 30 samples, 15 individuals were randomly
assigned to the experimental group and also the other 15 individuals were assigned to
the control group. At the pre-test phase, each participant filled out the SF-36
questionnaire for the purpose of evaluation of life quality. Afterwards, each subject’s
height and weight was measured and furthermore, for the purpose of completion of
gaiting kinematics measurements, the subjects were asked to perform a gaiting test on a
ceramic floor. The distance between the camera and the route was 5 meters and each
subject was also asked to gait through a five meter rout with bare feet and while having
their under body parts marked with certain markers. The subjects wore black dresses
and had markers on their external ankle, heel and fifth foot bone, and the greater
trochanter of femur and epicondyle; and while they walked in natural and with
deliberate speeds, they were filmed.
With respect to the research design which included a posttest, pretest and a
control group, and next, the extent of changes between the posttest and pretest were
examined and evaluated for the purpose of discussing the effects of stability and
cognitive yoga exercises on the dependent variables of our research. Afterwards, the
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
amount of changes was calculated through the application of the independent t-test. In
addition, for the purpose of comparing the impacts of stability and cognitive yoga
exercises on the time-location parameters of the right and left paces, firstly the amount
of changes was calculated and then (positive changes were regarded as an increase in
the post-test and also negative changes were regarded as an increase in post-test), by
the application of the correlated t-test, the results were compared with each other. It is
worth mentioning that hypotheses related to gait parameters were each discussed in
three sections. The first section was dedicated to the impact of stability and cognitive
yoga exercises on parameters of the right step, the second section was concerned with
the same parameters regarding the left step and also the third section was concerned
with a comparison between the impacts of stability and cognitive yoga exercises on left
and right paces. In addition, in all hypotheses, the pre-test values of dependent
variables were compared with the values of the same variables in post-test for both the
control and experimental groups through the application of the correlated t-test. With
respect to the fact that we require descriptive and inferential statistics in order to be able
to interpret the obtained results, therefore the entire results of tests are shown here in
addition to related descriptive statistics. The entire analyses are performed with the
SPSS v20.0 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results
Table 1 shows the descriptive statistics related to personal characteristics of subjects
including height, weight and age for both the control and experimental groups
Table 1: The descriptive statistics related to personal characteristics of subjects in both
experimental and control groups
(te(pthy(eh
(Ge(pthy(ew
(gpey( egu
puorg
151/07y±y8/04
65/00y±y11/66
69/47y±y4/84
eageu(ieehge
150/20y±y4/00
65/50y±y11/85
69/53y±y5/93
loehuoe
Hypothesis testing
One period of stability and cognitive yoga trainings have no impact on components of
life quality (physical performance, limited operability due to physical health problems,
limited operability due to mental health problems, energy and fatigue, feeling of being
well, social performance, pain, general health and total life quality) among active
elderly women.
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Table 2: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the pretest and posttest values of life
quality for both groups
loiggu(epyhteygorhherhy
geeygueherh
ltgeper
gorhherh
gueherh
puorg
egu(gree
t14 = 7.686, sig = 0.000*
16/00y±y8/06
71/33y±y18/07
55/33y±y20/48
eageu(ieehge
gt r(lgeygeuluoigele
t14 = 6.077, sig = 0.000*
14/67y±y9/35
74/67y±y17/06
60/00y±y19/36
eoehuoe
t14 = 5.002, sig = 0.000*
38/33y±y29/68
71/66y±y32/55
33/33y±y39/71
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 2.882, sig = 0.012*
30/00y±y40/31
70/00y±y41/40
40/00y±y44/11
eoehuoe
t14 = 5.995, sig = 0.000*
51/06y±y32/99
86/62y±y21/13
33/55y±y40/76
experimental
t14 = 2.823, sig = 0.014*
33/11y±y45/43
86/44y±y30/77
53/33y±y51/64
eoehuoe
t14 = 8.589, sig = 0.000*
19/03y±y8/58
68/80y±y18/28
49/77y±y19/62
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 5.325, sig = 0.000*
17/00y±y12/36
75/67y±y18/16
56/67y±y17/18
Control
t14 = 6.644, sig = 0.000*
18/07y±y10/53
66/40y±y21/09
48/33y±y26/77
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 4.955, sig = 0.000*
21/33y±y16/68
75/20y±y20/35
53/87y±y14/33
eoehuoe
t14 = 6.542, sig = 0.000*
23/67y±y14/01
83/33y±y14/72
59/67y±y22/14
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 3.995, sig = 0.001*
17/67y±y17/12
78/33y±y20/30
60/67y±y20/19
eoehuoe
t14 = 5.407, sig = 0.000*
20/67y±y14/80
66/67y±y23/71
46/00y±y26/09
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 2.467, sig = 0.027*
10/33y±y16/22
56/17y±y18/56
45/83y±y19/83
eoehuoe
t14 = 8.073, sig = 0.000*
15/80y±y7/58
78/67y±y13/16
62/87y±y18/74
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 3.007, sig = 0.009*
11/00y±y14/17
72/33y±y18/31
61/33y±y14/45
eoehuoe
t14 = 10.650, sig =
0.000*
25/33y±y9/21
74/18y±y15/51
48/86y±y19/62
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 6.321, sig = 0.000*
19/39y±y11/88
73/35y±y16/72
53/96y±y19/38
eoehuoe
limited operability
due to physical health
problems
limited operability
due to mental health
problems
eeeup ygeeylgh(pre
leee(epyolyre(epyGeee
rol(geygeulouigele
gg(e
peeeugeytegeht
otolaiatefil latot
Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the values of posttest and pretest for the
components of physical performance, limited operability due to physical health
problems, limited operability due to mental health problems, energy and fatigue,
feeling of being well, social performance, pain, general health and total life quality does
not show any significant difference between the posttest and pretest values for both the
control and experimental groups. Therefore, it can be stated that stability and cognitive
exercises have no impact on quality of life among active elderly women.
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GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Second hypothesis
Null hypothesis: one period of stability and cognitive yoga exercises does not have a
significant impact on the pace length profile and length of the left and right steps in left
and right paces among active elderly women.
Table 3: Results of the correlated t-test for making a comparison between length of left pace and
length of the left and right steps in the left pace of the posttest and pretest values for both
groups
gorhherhygeeygueherhy
loiggu(roe
perltge
gorhherh
gueherh
puorg
t14 = 9.825, sig
=0.000*
0/126y±y0/049
0/696y±y0/09
y±y0/11
0/570
eageu(ieehge
eoehuoe
egu(gree
eelhyggleyeeepth
t14 = 1.306, sig =
0.213
0/014y±y0/041
0/622y±y0/05
y±y0/04
0/609
t14 = 6.282, sig
=0.000*
0/076y±y0/047
0/359y±y0/04
y±y0/06
0/283
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 0.258, sig =
0.800
0/002y±y0/030
0/309y±y0/03
y±y0/02
0/307
eoehuoe
t14 = 6.289, sig
=0.000*
0/050y±y0/031
0/337y±y0/06
y±y0/05
0/287
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 1.058, sig =
0.308
0/011y±y0/043
0/313y±y0/05
y±y0/03
0/301
eoehuoe
eeepthylyhteyeelhy
rhegy(eyeelhyggle
eeepthyolyhteyu(pthy
rhegy(eyeelhyggle
Results have shown that the changes in profile of the left pace length among the
experimental group is significantly higher than the changes in control group. In
addition, there existed a significant difference between the posttest and pretest values of
length of left pace and length of the left and right steps in the left pace among the
experimental group subjects. However, these changes were not significant for the
pretest and posttest values of the control group. Therefore, yoga cognitive and stability
exercises lead to a significant increase in length of left pace and length of the left and
right steps in the left pace. In other words, it can be stated that stability exercises have a
significant and increasing impact on the profile of the left pace length.
Third hypothesis
Null hypothesis: one period of stability and cognitive yoga exercises does not have a
significant impact on the pace speed in both the left and right paces among active
elderly women.
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GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Table 4: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the pretest and posttest values of right
pace speed for both groups
gorhherhygeeygueherhy
loiggu(roe
ltgeper
gorhherh
gueherh
puorg
t14 = 5.481,sig = 0.000*
0/056y±y0/039
0/234y±y0/04
0/177y±y0/05
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 0.852, sig = 0.409
0/007y±y0/034
0/202y±y0/03
0/194y±y0/03
loehuoe
egu(gree
u(pthyggleyrgeee
Results of the correlated t-test indicated that there existed a significant difference
between the posttest and pretest values of pace speed among the experimental group,
however the differences were not significant for the control group and on this basis, it
can be said that the aforementioned exercises lead to an improved right pace speed.
Table 5: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the pretest and posttest values of left pace
speed for both groups
gorhherhygeeygueherhy
loiggu(roe
ltgeper
gorhherh
t14 = 5.838, sig = 0.000*
0/0433y±y0/029
0/223y±y0/02
t14 = 0.776, sig = 0.451
0/007y±y0/034
t14 = 0.779, sig = 0.449
1/06y±y5/26
gueherh
puorg
egu(gree
0/180y±y0/04
eageu(ieehge
eelhyggleyrgeee
0/196y±y0/03
0/189y±y0/03
loehuoe
30/09y±y5/72
29/03y±y5/31
loehuoe
Results of the correlated t-test indicated that there existed a significant difference
between the posttest and pretest values of pace speed among the experimental group,
however the differences were not significant for the control group and on this basis, it
can be said that the aforementioned exercises lead to an improved left pace speed.
Fourth hypothesis
Null hypothesis: one period of stability and cognitive yoga exercises does not have a
significant impact on the pace frequency in both the left and right paces among active
elderly women
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Table 6: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the pretest and posttest values of right
pace frequency for both groups
gueherhygeeygorhherhy
loiggu(roe
ltgeper
gorhherh
gueherh
puorg
t14 = 1.636, sig = 0.124
11/45y±y27/11
y±y17/77
252/35
y±y26/80
240/90
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 0.505, sig = 0.621
4/90y±y37/57
y±y32/66
247/40
y±y35/35
242/50
loehuoe
egu(gree
u(pthyggley
lueereel
Results of the correlated t-test indicated that there existed no significant difference
between the posttest and pretest values of right pace frequency among the experimental
group, and also the differences were not significant for the control group and on this
basis, it can be said that the aforementioned exercises have no impact on right pace
frequency among both the control group and experimental group subjects.
Table 7: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the pretest and posttest values of left pace
frequency for both groups
gorhherhygeeygueherhy
loiggu(roe
ltgeper
gorhherh
gueherh
puorg
egu(gree
t14 = 0.598, sig = 0.560
4/97y±y32/18
250/48y±y15/50
245/52y±y31/50
eageu(ieehge
t14 = 0.448, sig = 0.661
4/30y±y37/26
246/62y±y37/54
242/31y±y33/62
loehuoe
eelhyggley
lueereel
Results of the correlated t-test indicated that there existed no significant difference
between the posttest and pretest values of left pace frequency among the experimental
group, and also the differences were not significant for the control group and on this
basis, it can be said that the aforementioned exercises have no impact on left pace
frequency among both the control group and experimental group subjects.
Fifth hypothesis
Null hypothesis: One period of stability and cognitive yoga exercises, have no impact
on swing time of one gait cycle of left and right paces of active elderly women.
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
Table 8: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the posttest and pretest values of right
pace swing for both groups
Posttest vs. pretest
changes
posttest
pretest
group
variable
Right pace swing time
t14 = 2.003, sig = 0.051
4/72y±y8/47
34/52y±y3/09
29/79y±y8/52
Exp.
t14 = 0.666, sig = 0.517
0/89y±y5/22
31/98y±y3/97
31/09y±y2/95
ctrl
Results of the independent t-test and the correlated t-test indicate that the swing time
was changed for both the experimental and the control groups, however the difference
is not statistically significant and therefore, the aforementioned exercises had no
significant effects on these parameters.
Table 9: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the posttest and pretest values of left pace
swing for both groups
Posttest vs. pretest
changes
Post-test
Pre-test
group
t14 = 4.164, sig = 0.001*
3/40y±y3/17
34/58y±y2/78
31/19y±y3/65
Exp.
t14 = -0.478, sig = 0.640
-0/323y±y2/62
33/19y±y3/07
33/51y±y2/05
Ctrl.
variable
Left pace swing time
Results of the independent t-test and the correlated t-test indicate that the swing time
was changed for both the experimental and the control groups, however the difference
is not statistically significant and therefore, the aforementioned exercises had no
significant effects on these parameters.
Sixth hypothesis
Null hypothesis: one period of stability and cognitive yoga exercises have no impact on
stance time of one gait cycle of left and right paces of active elderly women.
Table 10: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the posttest and pretest values of right
pace stance time for both groups
Posttest vs. pretest
changes
Post-test
Pre-test
group
t14 = -2.001, sig = 0.051
-4/72y±y8/47
65/48y±y3/09
70/21y±y8/52
Exp.
t14 = -0.666, sig = 0.517
-0/89y±y5/22
68/02y±y3/97
68/91y±y2/95
Ctrl.
variable
Right pace stance time
Results of the independent t-test and the correlated t-test indicate that the stance time
was changed for both the experimental and the control groups, however the difference
European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
is not statistically significant and therefore, the aforementioned exercises had no
significant effects on these parameters.
Table 11: Results of the correlated t-test for comparing the posttest and pretest values of left
pace stance time for both groups
Posttest vs. pretest
changes
Post-test
Pre-test
group
variable
t14 = -4.164, sig = 0.001*
-3/40y±y3/17
65/42y±y2/78
68/81y±y3/65
Exp.
t14 = 0.478, sig = 0.640
0/323y±y2/62
66/81y±y3/07
66/49y±y2/05
Ctrl.
Left pace
stance time
Results of the independent t-test and the correlated t-test indicate that the stance time
was changed for both the experimental and the control groups, however the difference
is not statistically significant and therefore, the aforementioned exercises had no
significant effects on these parameters.
Discussion and Conclusions
With respect to the results obtained from the current research, it can be concluded that
as a result of having a stable nature and including an instruction phase and emphasis
on body symmetry; yoga exercises can lead to the following changes:
Cognitive and stability yoga exercises have a meaningful and significant impact on
life quality among elderlies. However, there exists an overlap between the stability
and cognitive yoga exercises and other exercises and the type of exercise does not
determine the quality of life among elderly women.
In terms of stability and cognition, yoga trainings significantly increase the length of
both paces. In addition, these exercises significantly increase the lengths of left and
right steps. However, the effect of these exercises on the left and right pace lengths
and the left and right steps associated with each pace is equal. In this regard, it can
be said that these exercises lead to a symmetrical increase in both pace lengths and
therefore inhibits certain walking or gaiting disorders among elderlies. On this basis,
the aforementioned exercises could be used for increasing pace lengths.
Possible reasons of improvement in pace and step lengths: the effect of the so-called
exercises on the under body parts leads to strengthening of the core muscles and is
followed by improved underbody performance, improved movement range,
increased flexibility and leg muscle strength.
Stability and cognitive yoga exercises have shown to have a significant increasing
impact on both left and right pace speeds. However, the obtained results also
European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 1 │ Issue 2 │ 2016
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Neda Ghadimi, Mina Bikdeli, Fatemeh Royatvand Ghiasvand, Behnaz Ganji Samin, Elham Shirzad THE IMPACT OF STABILITY AND COGNITIVE YOGA EXERCISES ON CERTAIN KINEMATICS OF
GAITING AND LIFE QUALITY AMONG ACTIVE ELDER WOMEN
indicate that there exists no significant difference between the changes of control
and experimental groups. Therefore, the so-called exercises will lead to an improved
symmetrical pace length and inhibits certain gaiting disorders which are caused by a
lack of symmetry in paces. In addition, undertaking the aforementioned exercises
reduces the risk of falling down among elderlies. Therefore, these exercises could be
undertaken for increasing pace speed.
Stability and cognitive yoga exercises increase pace frequency. However, these
changes were not significant and therefore, it cannot be stated that the so-called
exercises have been successful in significant improvement of pace frequency. One
possible reason for constancy of pace frequency could be that the exercises
administered by the researcher had a little impact on muscular strength and
contraction speed. It seems that by manipulation of intensity and time of exercise, a
significant improved pace frequency could be obtained which currently requires
further research
For the purpose of improvement of gaiting cycle and also for the purpose of
reducing the stance time and increasing the swing time and closure of the
mentioned times to normal time scales, the so-called stability and cognitive yoga
exercises have been proven useful and these exercises can reduce time related
disorders in terms of taking steps; in addition these exercises can reduce the risk of
falling down among elderlies. Therefore, it is recommended to consider for
cognitive and stability yoga exercises in elderlies’ exercising protocols.
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