CompletedNot Applicable

Yoga With and Without VR for Core, Balance, and Stress in University Students

Turkey (Türkiye)32 participantsStarted 2025-06-19

Plain-language summary

The present study aims to investigate the combined and comparative effects of yoga exercise performed with and without virtual reality (VR) support on stress levels, core stabilization, and balance in university students aged 18-30. Participants will be screened using validated stress assessment tools to ensure inclusion of individuals with moderate to high perceived stress. Eligible participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two groups:(1) a virtual reality yoga group (VRYG), in which yoga sessions are delivered through immersive VR environments with therapist-guided breathing and movement instruction; and (2) a Traditional Yoga Group (TYG), in which the same therapist will give the same breathing and movement instructions without VR. Both groups will undergo 12 supervised sessions over a period of four weeks (three sessions per week, each lasting 30 minutes). The intervention protocol includes a structured series of yoga postures designed to target trunk stability, flexibility, and balance, along with breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and the 4-7-8 method to promote relaxation and stress reduction. The VR group will perform these exercise within calming, immersive virtual environments,while the control group will perform them in a quite,well-lit physical space. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline and after completion of the intervention. Psychological stress will be evaluated using the Depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) with a focus on the stress sub-scale.Physiological indicators, including heart rate and blood pressure will be recorded at rest. Core stabilization will be assessed through plank and side-plank endurance tests, while balance will be evaluated using both static (single-leg stance) and dynamic (Y-Balance Test) protocols. These measures will allow for a comprehensive analysis of the intervention's effects on both mental and physical domains of health.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 30 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * University student aged 18-30 * Moderate-to-high perceived stress levels (DASS-21) * No contraindications for yoga or VR use Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed psychological conditions requiring treatment * Musculoskeletal limitations that prevent participation * Use of medications affecting stress * Current participation in structured stress-reduction programs

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This study compared yoga with and without virtual reality in university students — since it looked at stress, balance, heart rate, and blood pressure, do you think the findings could be relevant to my own situation, or were the participants too different from me for the results to apply?
2The trial is already completed, so results may be available — is it worth asking the research team or looking up the published findings to see whether adding VR to yoga actually made a meaningful difference in stress or balance outcomes?
3Since this was a behavioral study with no assigned phase, it wasn't testing a drug or medical procedure — would you consider yoga, with or without VR, a safe complement to whatever treatment plan we're already discussing for me?
4The study measured balance using the Y-Balance Test — if balance or fall risk is a concern for me personally, is there a way to get that kind of assessment done outside of a trial setting?
5Given that this trial is completed and wasn't a treatment trial, would standard stress-reduction or physical therapy options already supported by evidence make more sense for me right now, rather than waiting to see if a follow-up study opens?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Stress level Balance performance(Y-balanced test)

Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month

Heart rate

Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month

Blood pressure

Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 1 month

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07310017

SponsorIstinye University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-06-11

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Health-Related Behavior trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 30 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.