Clinical trial NCT05821270: Effects of Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga Supta on Portuguese Airforce Military Pilots Performance
Official title: Effects of Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga Supta on Portuguese Airforce Military Pilots Performance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Military Operational Stress Reaction
Keywords: yoga
airforce pilots
operational performance
military pilots
Lead sponsor: University of Évora
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-04-20
Enrollment: 18
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: 1 group randomly divided in: yoga intervention plus regular military training; and "waiting list" with only military training
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: A total of 18 military pilots in their tirocinium in the air force academy from the Portuguese Air Force course "Masters in Military Aeronautics: aviator pilot specialist" participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to yoga (intervention group) or waiting list (control group). Procedures were approved by the Évora University research ethics committee and participants will give written informed consent according to the Helsinki declaration (approval number: 21050).

Detailed description: A randomized, prospective, controlled trial was designed, with the participants (n=18) randomly distributed into two groups. The Control Group (n=8) will be receiving the protocolized classes from the course "Masters in Military Aeronautics: aviator pilot specialist" for 12 weeks, the Intervention Group (n=10) will receive the same course and 2 sessions per week (1h each) of the yoga classes (4). The intensity of the program (Borg rating of perceived exertion scale) will be measured. The operative performance response measurements will be collected at baseline and post-intervention. Participants will complete the following emergency protocols in a flight simulator: (1) take-off engine failure, (2) flight engine failure close to the base, (3) flight engine failure far away from the base, and (4) alternator failure. This intervention protocol was accepted by the Portuguese Airforce to be applied on Airbase 11 in Beja.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* healthy military pilots in their tirocinium in the air force academy from the Portuguese Air Force course "Masters in Military Aeronautics: aviator pilot specialist

Exclusion Criteria:

* military pilots on active duty before or after the tirocinium;
* injured military pilots;
* military pilots on sudden lifestyle changes (as in: starting or quitting smoking habits; starting or quitting any kind of medication; starting a new diet)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Changes in Operative performance
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Changes in Stress and HRV
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Changes in Vestibular system control responses
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in Body composition
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Changes in Lung capacity
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire - Changes in cognitive habilities
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Questionnaire - Changes in cognitive habilities
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
measure: Aviation Safety Attitude Scale - Changes in cognitive habilities
timeFrame: measured at 12 weeks (versus baseline values)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Évora
country: Portugal
facility: UEvora
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Évora
name: Sara G Santos
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: