Summary
BodyBalance is a popular mind–body program practised at numerous leisure centres throughout
the western world that makes many unsubstantiated claims as to the benefits of participation.
This study examines physiological and psychological responses in adults, aged (mean ± S.D.) 43.9 ± 10.9 years, to a 12-week ‘BodyBalance’ exercise program. An exercise intervention
group (n = 17) undertook three 1-h classes, each week for 12 consecutive weeks while the control
group (n = 17) attended three 90-min ‘health lectures’. ANCOVA demonstrated significant differences
between the control and exercise groups in body mass, skinfold measures, total girth
circumference from six sites, maximal isometric back strength, five measures of flexibility
and state anxiety. Post-hoc tests on the experimental group data showed body fat decreased
significantly by 1.10 ± 1.02% (t = 4.44; P < 0.01), girth by 4.40 ± 5.80 cm (t = 3.13; P < 0.01) and back strength increased by 17.12 ± 15.39 kgf (t = −4.59; P < 0.01). Flexibility was also significantly enhanced with performance of the modified
sit-and-reach test increasing by 5.90 ± 2.56 cm (t = −9.50; P < 0.01), hip flexion by 9.84 ± 8.41° (t = −4.82; P < 0.01), hip extension by 7.65 ± 4.48° (t = −7.04; P < 0.01), hip abduction by 10.00 ± 4.91° (t = −8.40; P < 0.01) and lateral trunk flexion by 3.06 ± 5.72° (t = −2.21; P < 0.05). Finally, state-anxiety (STAI) was significantly reduced intra-class at weeks
1, 6 and 12 by 9.24 ± 9.46 (t = 4.02; P < 0.01), 6.59 ± 6.26 (t = 4.34; P < 0.01) and 7.18 ± 5.50 (t = 5.38; P < 0.01), respectively. The findings of this study suggest mind–body exercise programs
like BodyBalance could significantly benefit state-anxiety as well as strength, flexibility,
and anthropometry around the trunk.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 21,
2007
Received in revised form:
March 12,
2007
Received:
August 26,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
