Yogic Practice Improves Neuromuscular Coordination in Sedentary Middle-Aged Women: An Experimental Study

Background. Kinesthetic perception, static balance, and coupling ability are essential components of motor coordination, particularly in middle-aged women leading sedentary lifestyles. Yogic practice is widely recognized for its benefits in enhancing physical and neuromuscular functions, but its specific impact on these variables remains underexplored. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an eight-week yogic practice on kinesthetic perception, static balance, and coupling ability among sedentary middle-aged women. Materials and methods. Sixty sedentary women, aged 30-50 years, were purposively selected from West Bengal, India, and divided into two age groups (30-40 and 41-50 years). Each age group was further assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental groups participated in a structured yogic practice program for eight weeks, while the control groups maintained their routine activities. Kinesthetic perception, static balance, and coupling ability were assessed using the kinesthetic obstacle test, stork stand test, and eye-hand coordination test, respectively. Statistical analyses, including ANCOVA, pairwise comparisons, and independent t-tests, were conducted using SPSS, with a significance level of 0.05. Results. ANCOVA revealed significant improvements in kinesthetic perception (F = 5.60, p < .05; F = 4.51, p < .05), static balance (F = 5.90, p < .05; F = 4.92, p < .05), and coupling ability (F = 10.74, p < .05; F = 7.60, p < .05) for the experimental groups in the 30-40 and 41-50 age ranges, respectively, compared to the control groups. Pairwise comparisons confirmed these marked differences, while independent t-tests showed no substantial variations between age groups in the experimental groups. Conclusions. The study indicated that an eight-week yogic practice intervention significantly improved kinesthetic perception, static balance, and coupling ability in sedentary middle-aged women, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing neuromuscular coordination. These findings support yogic practice as an effective strategy for improving motor functions in non-athletic middle-aged populations.