Evaluating the Effect of Yogic Intervention on Psychological Distress Among Injured Athletes

Abstract

Background. Injured athletes often face psychological distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, which can hinder their recovery. Addressing mental well-being is essential for holistic rehabilitation. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured yogic intervention, comprising practices of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing), in reducing psychological distress among chronically injured athletes. Materials and methods. Forty athletes with long-term injuries, aged 19 to 26, from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, were randomly divided into two groups of 20, with equal numbers of men and women in each group: one group received the treatment and the other did not. The 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was implemented to measure psychological discomfort. Before the intervention, both groups took a pre-test. The Experimental group received a yogic intervention for six weeks (30 minutes/day, five days/week), while the Control group underwent no intervention. A post-test was conducted for both groups after the intervention period. Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used to analyze within-group and between-group differences, respectively. Results. The Experimental group showed significant improvement in depression (t = 6.65, p < .001), anxiety (t = 5.07, p < .001), and stress (t = 5.72, p < .001) from pre- to post-test. No substantial changes were observed in the Control group. Post-test comparisons revealed marked enhancements in all variables in the Experimental group compared to the Control group. Conclusions. According to the findings of this study, the structured yogic intervention significantly reduced psychological distress in injured athletes, suggesting its effectiveness as a complementary strategy in the rehabilitation process. Yoga Nidra and Nadi Shodhana Pranayama may aid in promoting faster and more effective recovery by improving mental well-being.