METHOD

Subjects and design of the study

In part 1 there were 20 community home girls with ages ranging from 12 to 17 years. They all had a history of difficulty in adjusting at home or in society. A comparison was made with 20 age-matched girls (± 6.0 months) who were attending a regular school and staying at home. Also twenty eight congenitally blind children of the same age-range were compared with all equal number of age and sex matched subjects with normal vision. In part 228 community home girls were divided into pairs matched for age and duration of stay in the community home. Subjects of a pair were randomly assigned to yoga and games. The follow up was carried out after 6 months. Also, 24 blind children were divided into pairs matched for age, sex, and degree of blindness. Subjects of a pair were randomly assigned to yoga and games groups. The follow up was carried out after 21 days.

Measurements

Measurements for part 1 were made under identical conditions. A moderately lit, sound attenuated cabin was used for recording. After 15 minutes of rest assessments were made for 10 minutes while subjects were seated at ease.

A 10-channel polygraph (Polyrite Recorders and Medicare, Chandigarh, India) was used to record the electrocardiogram (EKG), respiration, and the skin resistance. The EKG was recorded using standard limb lead 1 configuration. Skin resistance was recorded using silver chloride disc electrodes filled with electrode paste, and placed in contact with the volar surfaces of the distal phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the left hand. A constant current of 10 microamperes was passed between the electrodes. Respiration was recorded using a volumetric pressure transducer. Subjects were asked to stand erect and transducer was fixed around the trunk, approximately 5 cm below the lower costal margin. The blood pressure was recorded with a sphygmomanometer.

Yoga, games, and physical activity programs

Yoga techniques included Simple yogasanas, postures which are maintained for as long as possible (50 minutes) and guided relaxation in shavasan (10 minutes). The games session included jogging in place. Rapid bending forward and backwards, twisting, and bending sideways (40 minutes) as well as games such as relay races in which all the girls had to take an active part for 20 minutes. The physical activity program consisted of working in the garden, with comparable physical exercise as that of the yoga program, involving a similar amount of bending or stretching.

Data extraction and analysis

Polygraphic data were scored blind as follows. The heart rate in beats per minute was obtained by counting the number of QRS complexes in successive 60-sec epochs continuously. The skin resistance (in kiloohms) was sampled at 20-sec intervals continuously. The breath rate in breath cycles per minute was obtained by counting the breath cycles in 60-sec epochs continuously. For each subject the average of values obtained during the 10-min recording session were analyzed. In Part I of the study comparisons were made using the Mann Whitney U test. In part II comparisons between yoga and the corresponding group were made using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test.