The Efficacy of Online Vinyasa Yoga and Taijifit™ on Physical Health Outcome Measures and Quality of Live of Adult Informal Caregivers

Abstract

Too often, informal caregivers suffer from physical pain, musculoskeletal injuries, aggravation of chronic illnesses, and other negative physical health consequences. Part of the negative impact on caregiver health may be a result of the reduced likelihood that informal caregivers engage in regular physical activity. Since nearly every Canadian will at some point in time be in the position of having to provide care for a loved one, reducing negative outcomes associated with informal caregiving represents a very large health concern. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects of online Vinyasa Yoga (VY) and TaijifitTM practice and cessation on muscle strength and endurance, balance, walking speed, flexibility, and quality of life (QOL) in adult informal caregivers (≥ 18 years of age). This thesis involved two studies. Study I investigated the physical changes and QOL effects from 12 consecutive weeks of VY and TaijifitTM practice (150 minutes/week) in adult informal caregivers. Study II investigated the physical changes and QOL effects after six weeks of cessation from VY and TaijifitTM in these caregivers. For Study I, participants were randomized to one of two groups: VY (n = 16, 11 females, 5 males) or TaijifitTM (n = 13, 7 females, 6 males). Twenty-six participants who completed Study I were part of for Study II (VY: n = 14, 9 females, 5 males; TaijifitTM: n = 12, 6 females, 6 males). Prior to and following the 12-week intervention (Study I) and six-week cessation period (Study II), assessments were made for muscle 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 and walking speed), flexibility (sit and reach), and QOL. ii Results from Study I showed that 12 consecutive weeks of VY and TaijifitTM increased muscle strength and endurance, indices of functionality, and flexibility (p < 0.05), with greater gains in chest press endurance (p = 0.019) and abdominal curl-up performance (p = 0.034) in the VY group compared to TaijifitTM group. Furthermore, 12 consecutive weeks of VY and TaijifitTM increased all eight QOL health domains and overall physical and mental health (p < 0.05), with TaijifitTM leading to greater gains in three QOL health domains – bodily pain (p = 0.021), general health (p = 0.005), and vitality (p = 0.018) – and overall physical health (p = 0.026) compared to VY. Results from Study II showed that all but two physical outcome measures (1-RM chest press strength, p = 0.038; chest press endurance, p = 0.024) were maintained six consecutive weeks post-exercise, with no differences between groups. Furthermore, overall physical and mental health and all but one QOL health domain (physical functioning, p = 0.029) were maintained six consecutive weeks post-exercise, with no differences between groups. These studies provide evidence that VY and TaijifitTM are effective for improving muscle strength and endurance, functionality, flexibility, and QOL in adult informal caregivers. VY led to greater gains in chest press endurance and abdominal curl-ups compared to TaijifitTM, while TaijifitTM led to greater gains in overall physical health, bodily pain, and general health compared to VY. Further, the vast majority of physical and QOL improvements were maintained after six weeks of cessation from VY and TaijifitTM. Keywords: Yoga, Tai Chi, Informal Caregiving, Strength, Endurance, Functionality, Flexibility, Quality of Life