Effect of a structured yoga module on selected motor and cognitive variables among individuals with alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Abstract

The withdrawal of alcohol may influence cognitive as well as motor functioning. This paper has investigated the relationship between a structured yoga module and the change in outcomes in adults in withdrawal. There was a two-group pre-test-post-test study with 90 participants (45 in the yoga group and 45 controls). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, right and left tapping, ruler-drop and single-leg stance were used to determine outcomes. Comparisons of change scores were in favour of yoga in all five outcomes (p < .001). The yoga group exhibited an upward mean change of 2.73 points, and the controls had a change of 0.58. Gains in tapping were greater, distance between ruler-drop decreased more, and time in stance doubled in the yoga group. Group-by-time tests, however, did not show any significant interaction in either of the tapping outcomes; MoCA was marginally significant (p = .049), ruler-drop and stance interactions were, however, significant (p < .001). Findings are indicative of potential advantages, but baseline MoCA imbalance, non-random assignment and conflicting tests prevent causal inferences. These findings need to be confirmed by further controlled research.