7-WEEKS OF YOGA TRAINING AND ITS EFFECTS ON FLEXIBILITY AND RATE OF FORCE DEVELOPMENT IN OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTERS

Abstract

Pre- and post-testing was performed consisting of flexibility and rate of force development (RFD) measurements. Participants performed a sit and reach test followed by a loaded overhead squat test with a barbell that was recorded with video to assess joint angles. A countermovement jump and snatch were performed after to measure RFD. Afterwards the participants were split, with the experimental group receiving 7-weeks of yoga training. After 7-weeks participants returned for post-testing and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) within participants for the following variables: sit and reach, shoulder flexion, knee flexion, ankle flexion, countermovement jump RFD, and snatch RFD. There was no significant interaction between the prelpost-test and the condition, or between groups for any variable (p r 0.05). Yoga training does not alter weightlifting performance variables.