Effects of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women

Official title

The Effect of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women

Overview

Healthy women aged 18-45 years with BMI \<30 were randomized into two groups to receive either Tai Chi or yoga training. Both interventions were delivered for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, at Bahçeşehir University. Flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized flexibility tests, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The outcome assessor was blinded to group assignment.

Detailed description

This study evaluates the effects of Tai Chi and yoga on flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality in healthy women. Eligible participants (women aged 18-45 years, BMI \<30, without prior musculoskeletal surgery and without conditions that would contraindicate exercise) are randomized into a Tai Chi group or a yoga group. The outcome assessor is blinded to group assignment.

Both groups participate in supervised exercise sessions conducted in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department laboratories at Bahçeşehir University. The Tai Chi group follows a Yang-style program consisting of 10 movements, delivered over 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, including warm-up, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down. The yoga group completes an 8-week program delivered twice weekly for 45 minutes per session, consisting of asanas targeting flexibility, strengthening, and balance, followed by cool-down and meditation.

Assessments are performed at baseline and after completion of the 8-week program. Flexibility is evaluated using standardized tests (sit-and-reach; trunk extensor flexibility; trunk lateral flexion; hip flexor flexibility; ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion). Anxiety is measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and sleep quality is measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Interventions

• Other Tai Chi
  Yang-style Tai Chi program consisting of 10 movements delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session (warm-up \~10 min; Tai Chi practice \~30 min; cool-down \~5 min).
• Other Yoga
  Yoga program delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, consisting of 30-35 minutes of asanas (flexibility, strengthening, balance) followed by cool-down and meditation (\~5 minutes).

Primary outcome measures

• Sleep Quality [Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).]

Secondary outcome measures (3)

• Anxiety [Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).]
• Flexibility [Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).]
• BMI [Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Female, 18-45 years of age
• BMI <30 kg/m²
• No history of musculoskeletal surgery

Exclusion criteria

• Congenital or acquired condition affecting the musculoskeletal system
• Any systemic disease or condition that makes exercise contraindicated, or pregnancy
• Chronic neurological, metabolic, or cardiovascular disease

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center

• Bahcesehir University — Istanbul

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07480174 · 2209

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗