COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOGA EXERCISES AND STRETCHING EXERCISES IN IMPROVING MUSCLE ELASTICITY

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of yoga exercises and stretching used for the improvement of diminished muscle elasticity in people with a sedentary lifestyle. This study comprised 12 female subjects, aged between 27 and 58, with a diminished muscle elasticity caused by age and /or a sedentary lifestyle. From various discussions and observations, we gathered that the diminished muscle elasticity limits mostly the anterior and lateral flexion of the core; hence, we used for our assessments, the measurement of the finger-floor and finger-tip of the fibula distances. Two groups were formed, one working with yoga exercises, the other with stretching exercises, over the course of 3 months, two sessions per week. After comparing the progress recorded in both groups, one can see that the effectiveness of both methods is almost the same, as the improvement of muscle elasticity is concerned, expressed by the assessment of the range in the anterior and lateral core flexion movements, with slightly better values for stretching.