Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

The author previously showed that 12 weeks of online Vinyasa Yoga (VY) and Taijifit was effective for increasing muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and physical performance in informal caregivers. As a follow-up, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of VY and Taijifit cessation after 6 weeks on these outcome measures. Strength (1-RM leg press, chest press, hand-grip), muscle endurance (leg press and chest press; maximal number of repetitions performed to fatigue at 80% and 70% baseline 1-RM respectively), abdominal endurance (maximum number of consecutive curl-ups to fatigue), tasks of functionality (dynamic balance, walking speed), and flexibility (sit and reach) were assessed before and after 6 weeks of VY and Taijifit cessation. After 6 weeks of VY and Taijifit cessation, muscle strength (1-RM leg press, total body, hand-grip right, hand-grip left, total hand-grip), muscle endurance (leg press, abdominal curl-up, total body), flexibility, and physical performance were maintained in both groups. Chest press strength and endurance decreased equally between VY and Taijifit over time (Chest press strength: VY pre 49.73 ± 22.62, post 49.57 ± 22.00 kg; Taijifit pre 51.41 ± 17.57, post 50.08 ± 17.82 kg; P = 0.038, η2 = 0.167; Chest press endurance: VY pre 28.42 ± 7.68, post 26.92 ± 7.95 reps; Taijifit pre 21.83 ± 5.40, post 19.83 ± 4.54 reps; P = 0.024, η2 = 0.194). Improvements in strength and endurance (except chest press), flexibility, and physical performance from 12 weeks of VY and Taijifit were maintained 6 weeks post-exercise in informal caregivers.