Immediate stress reduction effects of yoga during pregnancy: One group pre-post test

Women Birth. 2016 Oct;29(5):e82-e88. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 Apr 17.

Abstract

Background: Excessive stress during pregnancy may cause mental disorders in pregnant women and inhibit fetal growth. Yoga may alleviate stress during pregnancy.

Aim: To verify the immediate effects of yoga on stress response during pregnancy.

Methods: One group pre-post test was conducted at a hospital in Japan. We recruited 60 healthy primiparas without complications and asked them to attend yoga classes twice a month and to practice yoga at their homes using DVD 3 times a week from 20 gestational weeks until childbirth. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase concentration were measured before and after yoga classes at time 1 (27-32 gestational weeks) and time 2 (34-37 gestational weeks). Subjective mood was assessed using the profile of mood states. Saliva values and mood scores before and after each yoga class were compared using paired t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, respectively.

Findings: We analyzed 44 and 35 women at time 1 and time 2, respectively. The mean salivary cortisol concentration declined significantly after each yoga class [time 1: 0.36-0.26μg/dL (p<0.001), time 2: 0.32-0.26μg/dL (p=0.001)]. The mean salivary alpha-amylase concentration also decreased significantly following each class [time 1: 72.2-50.8kU/L (p=0.001), time 2: 70.6-52.7kU/L (p=0.006)]. The scores for negative dimensions of mood (Trait-Anxiety, Depression, Anger-Hostility, Fatigue, and Confusion) decreased significantly. The scores of Vigor for a positive dimension of mood significantly increased.

Conclusion: This study indicated the immediate stress reduction effects of yoga during pregnancy.

Keywords: Exercise; Pregnant women; Saliva; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / metabolism
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Anxiety / therapy*
  • Depression / metabolism
  • Depression / psychology
  • Depression / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
  • Japan
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / metabolism
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / psychology
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third / metabolism
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third / psychology
  • Pregnant Women / psychology*
  • Saliva / chemistry*
  • Stress, Physiological*
  • Stress, Psychological / metabolism
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy*
  • Yoga*
  • Young Adult
  • alpha-Amylases / analysis
  • alpha-Amylases / metabolism

Substances

  • alpha-Amylases
  • Hydrocortisone