Postural Control Improvements in Adolescents Following an Eight-Session Yoga Intervention: A Prospective Comparison with Adults

Background/Objectives: Postural control undergoes significant maturation from adolescence to adulthood. While is promising as a means of enhancing postural stability in adults, its effect in adolescents, whose postural control is poorer, remains to be determined. This study aimed to assess the effects of a yoga intervention on postural balance in healthy adolescents and adults. Methods: Eighteen adolescents and 18 young adults completed eight two-hour Hatha yoga sessions (one per week). Postural control was assessed using a stabilometric platform to measure center of pressure (CoP) parameters. These parameters were assessed in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. Results: Adolescents showed higher baseline oscillations than adults. While the yoga intervention demonstrated a significant main effect of Time in the EO condition for all CoP parameters and in both groups, no difference appeared in the EC condition. A significant Group × Time interaction for CoP velocity in EO showed significantly decreased CoP velocity in adolescents but not in adults. Conclusions: An eight-week yoga program significantly improved postural control in healthy adolescents and adults in the EO condition. Adolescents exhibited CoP velocity decrease after yoga intervention, whereas adults did not. These findings advocate for integrating yoga into physical education so as to support postural development, especially during adolescence.