Investigating the efficacy of cyclic meditation in the management of post-exercise fatigue among law enforcement trainees: a randomized controlled study

CYCLIC MEDITATION FOR EXERCISE INDUCED FATIGUE

Abstract

Cyclic meditation (CM), a practice rooted in traditional knowledge, offers a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being, promoting stress reduction, focus, and emotional balance, all of which are essential for enhancing overall health and resilience that can benefit individuals in our fast-paced, often disjointed modern world. To examine the impact of CM on exercise-induced fatigue (EIF), 48 law enforcement trainees (age 28.1±4.4 y, height 1.7±0.06 m, and mass 63.9±8.5 kg) from the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur, Kerala, India were randomly chosen and were distributed to two even groups. The intervention group (n=24) practiced 30 min of CM after morning physical training session for 30 days, while the control group (n=24) rested in supine. Testosterone, cortisol, and Testosterone-Cortisol ratio (T:C) were assessed for 20 participants in each group on days 1 and 31 after the physical training session. Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) and Rating of Fatigue (ROF) questionnaire were measured for all the participants on days 1, 15, and 31 after the physical training session. The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in CMJ height (p<0.05), CMJ flight time (p<0.05), and ROF (p<0.05), but the control group did not exhibit any significant changes. The control group showed significant decline in testosterone (p<0.05) and T:C (p<0.05) and a significant rise in cortisol (p<0.05) while the intervention group did not reveal any significant changes. The intervention group significantly improved CMJ variables and ROF, restricted the decline in testosterone by over 10%, suppressed the reduction in T:C by more than 50%, compared to the control group and reduced cortisol levels by 27%. Bottom of Form These findings suggest that CM could aid in recovering from EIF.