Yoga review reports mixed findings for track and field athletes
Flexibility and balance improved in the review's summary, while some studies found little change in stress or athletic performance. The abstract leaves important comparison details unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review reports improvements in flexibility, balance, strength, and anxiety among track and field athletes taking part in yoga programs. Results were less consistent for stress and athletic performance, with some studies finding little impact. These findings describe a mixed body of research and do not establish how much yoga changes competition-relevant performance.
The abstract does not provide study or participant counts, effect sizes, comparison conditions, or detailed bias results. It describes study quality as fair and notes variation in program design and duration.
Physical and emotional outcomes
The authors reviewed yoga interventions and considered both physical abilities and mental health. Their summary includes positive findings for some outcomes, alongside reports of improved quality of life and reduced burnout in some studies.
Performance remains a separate question
An improvement in flexibility or balance is a different outcome from better athletic performance. Because the abstract reports mixed performance findings and no numerical effects, the size and sporting importance of any benefit remain unclear.
The original publication
Effect of yoga on selected performance metrics and mental health of track and field athletes: A systematic review.
Singh D, Kalra S, Mohammad M et al.
J Bodyw Mov Ther · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41316576
- Record checked
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