YOGA PRACTICES AND PSYCHOMOTOR COORDINATION IN SCHOOL-GOING STUDENTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF REACTION TIME AND STEADINESS
Suman Thapliyal, Nidheesh Yadav
EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) July 23, 2026 DOI: 10.36713/epra30991 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | School-going children and adolescents |
| Key findings | The authors propose that yoga practice improves reaction time, steadiness, balance, eye-hand coordination, and psychomotor performance in school-aged children, with integrated programs potentially more effective than isolated techniques, though the evidence is limited by methodological shortcomings. |
Abstract
Background: Psychomotor coordination is important for children to develop, to do tasks like sports, educational performance, and functional daily activities. The reaction time and steadiness are two crucial parameters of neuromuscular efficiency, sensorimotor integration, and cognitive processing.
Objective: This narrative review aims to review the effects of yoga practices on reaction time and steadiness among school-going students.
Methods: A narrative review was performed using published literature from major electronic databases. Research contained evidence from school-going children and adolescents was included. Study focused on yoga interventions, including asanas, pranayama, meditation, relaxation, and Surya Namaskar. Various data about reaction time, equilibrium, balance, eye-hand coordination, and muscle performance-related ability were critically examined and integrated.
Results: The literature surveyed in the above study reveals that repeated practice of yoga helps improve reaction time, steadiness, static and dynamic balance, eye-hand coordination, and psychomotor performance. Benefits seem associated with better neuromuscular co-ordination, proprioceptive awareness, autonomic regulation, attentional control, and sensorimotor integration. Programs that integrate yoga techniques often achieve greater results than isolated techniques. Nevertheless, the available evidence is constrained by the different intervention protocols employed, small sample sizes, short duration of interventions, and limited follow-up in the long term.
Conclusion: The practice of Yoga is a safe, cost-effective, and practical intervention for enhancing psychomotor coordination of school-aged children. The inclusion of structured programs in schools may improve motor, cognitive functioning, and overall well-being. There is a requirement for future multicentre randomized controlled trials that involve the use of standardized yoga protocols and objective psychomotor assessments.