RESULTS

Group mean values + SDs are provided in Table 1. 

Baseline changes in tapping speed from initial to final assessments were calculated comparing tapping speed in between 0-10 seconds (TS1) 10-20 seconds (TS2) and 20- 30 seconds (TS3). 

All adults of the yoga group showed significant increases in TS1, TS2 and TS3 of both hands after 30 days of yoga compared to before (Student's t-test). The percentage change and levels of significance are mentioned in Table II. Adults of both sexes belonging to the control group showed no change. Children of both sexes showed significant increases in all three groups (TS1, TS2 and TS3) of both hands at final assessments after 10 days of yoga, compared to initial assessments (Table II).

TABLE 1: 

Tapping speed in subjects during 0-10 seconds (TSI), 10-20 seconds (TS2) and 20-30 seconds (TS3). Values are group means S.D.

Comparison of tapping speed between 20- 30 seconds (TS3) and 0-10 seconds (TSI)

At the initial assessment adults of the yoga group showed a significantly lower TS3 than TS1 of the left hand. After 30 days of yoga this difference was further enhanced (see Table II) and was also seen for the right hand TS (TS3 versus TS1). Adults of the control group showed a significantly lower TS3 than TS1 for the right hand initially, and for both hands at final assessment. Children showed significantly lower TS3 than TS1 for both hands at initial as well as final assessments (see Table II).

TABLE II:

Comparisons of (1) initial and final values of tapping speeds in 0-10 seconds (TSI) 10-20 seconds (TS2) and 20-30 seconds (TS3) and (2) TS3 versus respective TS1 for initial and Final assessments

Motor Speed Asymmetry (MSA)  

MSA was calculated (based on a formula (5), MSA = [(Right hand speed-Left hand speed)/ Right hand speed × 100)]. For males of the yoga group MSA values at initial and final assessments were 10.9 and 9.3. Females of the yoga group had initial MSA of 6.6 and final of 12.1. Males of the control group had MSA initial of 6.6 and final of 8.9. 

Females of the control group had 10.8 (initial) and 11.9 (final). For children the MSA values were 7.5 (initial) and 10.7 (final). A MSA value of 10 is expected in right-handed individuals, with values of 20 or more suggesting a greater than normal right hand advantage (6). Since all values were less than 20, they were within the expected range for right hand dominant persons.