Effect of Selected Yoga Asanas and Yoga Nidra on ADHD Symptoms and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Children: A Pilot Study
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Abstract
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects approximately five to seven percent of children globally, presenting significant challenges in attention regulation, impulse control, and hyperactivity management. Conventional pharmacological interventions often carry adverse effects, prompting exploration of complementary approaches. Yoga-based practices have emerged as promising non-pharmacological strategies for managing neurobehavioral disorders.
Objectives: This pilot study investigated the effects of selected yoga asanas and yoga nidra on ADHD symptom severity across inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity domains, and salivary cortisol concentrations in children with ADHD symptoms.
Methods: Eighteen children aged seven to twelve years with ADHD symptoms were randomly allocated to three groups using lottery method: yoga asanas (n=6), yoga nidra (n=6), and control (n=6). Intervention groups received supervised sessions four days weekly for four weeks. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the ADHD Behaviour Rating Scale. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline and post-intervention. Non-parametric analyses including Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed.
Results: All participants completed the study with 92% session attendance. Between-group analysis revealed significant differences for inattention change (χ²=6.40, p=0.041) and total ADHD change (χ²=9.74, p=0.008) with large effect sizes (ε²=0.573). Hyperactivity-impulsivity showed a trend toward significance with large effect size (χ²=4.44, p=0.108, ε²=0.261). Cortisol levels showed no significant changes. No adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that both yoga asanas and yoga nidra may effectively reduce ADHD symptoms in children compared to control. These results warrant larger randomized controlled trials to establish efficacy.
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References
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