The Effect of a Hatha Yoga Exercise Programme with Segmental Stabilisation Exercises on Trunk Flexibility
Maja Petrič
Profilo Orcid, Lijana Zaletel-Kragelj
Profilo Orcid e Renata Vauhnik
Profilo Orcid 
Categoria dell'articolo: Original scientific article
Pubblicato online: 01 set 2025
Pagine: 152 - 159
Ricevuto: 09 apr 2025
Accettato: 26 mag 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2025-0019
Parole chiave
© 2025 Maja Petrič et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
Introduction
In addition to sufficient trunk muscle endurance, adequate trunk flexibility, i.e. trunk muscle extensibility and spinal mobility, is an important element for the stability of the spine and pelvis. The aim of this intervention study was to investigate the effects of a preventive exercise programme on trunk flexibility.
Methods
The participants were healthy adults without pain or injury in the lower back. They were divided into two groups: the exercise group (EG), which performed a hatha yoga exercise programme with segmental stabilisation exercises (12 weeks), and the control group (CG), in which they maintained their previous lifestyle during the study period. Before and after the intervention the measured variables, the extensibility of the trunk muscles and the mobility of the thoracolumbar spine were compared.
Results
Seventy-two participants (nEG=36, age 32.2±6.8 years; nCG=36, age 29.9±7.8 years) took part in the study. After the exercise programme, the EG participants achieved significantly better extensibility of the iliopsoas muscle (p≤0.001), the V-Sit and Reach Test (p=0.001) and the mobility of the thoracolumbar spine (p<0.05). Significant differences between the two groups were found in four of five extensibility tests (p≤0.041) and in flexion, left lateral flexion and right rotation of the spine (p≤0.036).
Conclusions
The proposed exercise programme indicated a significant improvement in trunk flexibility. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of the proposed exercise programme on a larger number of participants.