EFFECT OF YOGA AND SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE ON FLEXIBILITY AND LEG MUSCLE EXPLOSIVE POWER AMONG MEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

People are discovering the countless ways that yoga and self-myofascial release can be used to improve football performance. This study aims to find out the effect of yoga and self-myofascial release on flexibility and leg muscle explosive power among men football players. Data were analyzed from forty-five (45) men football players and age level were from 18-25 years old and they were stratified into a yoga group (YG, n = 15), self-myofascial release training group (SRTG, n=15) and a combined training group (CTG, n = 15). The YG and SRTG received periodized yoga practice and self-myofascial release training for 12 weeks. The flexibility and leg muscle explosive power of all the groups were evaluated before and after the training, and the variables were measured by standardized test items as sit and reach test and vertical jump test. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to find out the significant mean differences. In all the cases, the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. There was found significant difference on the twelve weeks of structured yoga practice, self-myofascial release training and combined training groups. Conferring to the obtained results, it can be concluded that yoga and self-myofascial release training leads to significant improvement in flexibility and leg muscle explosive power among men football players. Although, CTG has relatively more effective in increase of flexibility and leg muscle explosive power among men football players as compared to YG and SRTG group.