Prenatal Yoga Improves Maternal Anxiety Scores During Pregnancy But Not Hip Mobility

Yoga has been shown to decrease lumbar pain, improve maternal mental health, improve delivery outcomes, and has even been linked to healthier infant birthweight. While there are many well-established benefits of yoga, the mechanism by which yoga elicits these improvements is unclear. One potential mechanism that has not been studied is via improvements in hip mobility. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of prenatal yoga on hip mobility. The secondary aim was to determine the relationship between hip mobility and pregnancy outcomes (data still be collected as study participants deliver). METHODS: Median hip mobility range was measured in pregnant people (N = 20; starting point: 12 to 28 weeks pregnant) before and after a 6-week prenatal yoga program offered 2x/week (intervention group) and compared to those in a control group (no yoga). Hip mobility was measured via the Thomas Test by a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy. Anxiety was assessed via the State Trait Anxiety Inventory Survey. After delivery, participants complete a survey on birth outcomes. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found between the intervention and control groups regarding hip mobility via goniometry [Hip flexion: right (F = 0.320, p = 0.575), left (F = 0.350, p = 0.558); Hip internal rotation: right (F = 0.001, p = 0.969), left (F = 0.350, p = 0.558); Hip external rotation: right (F = 1.137, p = 0.293), left (F = 0.981, p = 0.329)]. The intervention group demonstrated ≥10% improvement in 8/20 anxiety-related components after taking prenatal yoga classes, while the control group demonstrated little to no change in anxiety scores. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of prenatal yoga at only 2x/week may not have been enough to elicit changes in hip mobility during pregnancy (ACSM recommends flexibility exercises be performed up to 5-7x/week). However, prenatal yoga was still beneficial for improvements in maternal psychological status during pregnancy. Data on delivery outcomes is forthcoming. Supported by: Western Kentucky University Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement Grant