Differences in skeletal growth pattern of yoga practising adolescent girls: A cross-sectional study

Yogasana improves both mental and physical health. There is sparse systematic research on the growth of yogasana practising adolescents.

This study aims to assess the differential skeletal growth pattern among pre-adolescent and adolescent girls as a result of yoga practice.

A cross-sectional anthropometric study was conducted on stature (height), sitting height and leg length of 757 school-going girls (4-15 years old), divided in two groups, Yoga Group (YG) (n=380) and age matched Control Group (CG) (n=377) participants participating in recreational games other than yoga. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. Unpaired t-test was performed for assessment of level of significance and Pearson's correlation (r) test was performed to to identify the association between growth pattern of stature and leg length at specific ages.

The physical growth showed an ascending trend in both Yoga group (YG) participants and control group (CG). At the onset of adolescence (10-12 years) the mean stature and leg length of YG participants were retarded (p < 0.05). Sitting height in YG was significantly (p < 0.05) low only in 10-year-olds. The similar trends were observed in stature and leg length in YG participants at 10 years (5th and 10th percentile) and 12 years (90th and 95th percentile). There was strong positive relationship between stature and leg length of YG participants (10 years, r = 0.86, p < 0.01; 11 years, r = 0.86, p < 0.01; 12 years, r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The stunted growth in YG participants during adolescence may be related to retarded growth of leg length.

Intense yogasana practice with greater skeletal stress possibly hinders stature in adolescent girls from 10 to 12 years. This may compromise with the natural growth pattern, necessitating special care during yoga training among adolescents while selecting the type, intensity and duration of yogasanas practice.