Case-control study, 2015
Does yoga help attention and mental state in women with PMS?
Possibly yes, according to this very small study. Women with PMS showed more relaxed brain patterns and better attention performance immediately after yoga, especially in the luteal phase (before their period).
What they did
A case-control study comparing 11 women with PMS and 9 without PMS. Women with PMS took attention tests using a computer task (2-back task) and had their brain waves (EEG) recorded before and after yoga classes during both the luteal and follicular phases of one menstrual cycle. Control women took the same tests only twice: once during the luteal phase and once during the follicular phase.
What they found
After yoga, women with PMS showed higher alpha brain wave percentage, indicating they felt more relaxed. On the attention task in the luteal phase, they improved: their reaction time became faster and accuracy improved after yoga. Brain wave patterns (P3 amplitude) varied throughout the cycle in the PMS group but stayed the same in the control group.
What it means for you
A single yoga session may help women with PMS feel calmer and concentrate better, particularly before their period. This is a very small study that followed women for only one cycle, so we cannot be certain the results apply more broadly.
11
women with PMS
9
women without PMS
1
menstrual cycle studied
About the study
- Original title
- The acute effects of yoga on cognitive measures for women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Wu WL, Lin TY, Chu IH et al.
- Journal
- Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 9
- What was tested
- Short-term yoga exercise classes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0070
Topics
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