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- Impact of yoga training on heart rate variability and pilot performance: a randomized controlled trialPublication . Santos, Sara; Melo, Filipe; Fernandes, Orlando; Parraca, José AlbertoBackground Piloting military aircraft demands precise execution of maneuvers under high-stress conditions. Yoga has been proposed as a potential intervention to enhance stress management, operational performance, and flight safety in pilots. However, its effects on stress resilience and performance metrics need further investigation. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 18 pilots were randomly assigned to either a Yoga intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=8). Heart rate variability (HRV) measures were analyzed to evaluate physiological stress responses. Performance variables, including completion times for flight maneuvers and number of errors during emergency protocol, were also assessed before and after a 12-week intervention period. Results HRV analysis showed improvements in stress resilience, indicated by changes in heart rate variability (HRV) parameters such as standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF). The Wilcoxon rank test revealed significant results regarding performance variables within the Yoga group, particularly for the Touch & Go maneuver (p=0.016) and the emergency maneuver (p=0.039), with large effect sizes (0.9444 and 0.8333, respectively). While completion times were longer for the Yoga group, indicating a more careful approach, the number of errors significantly decreased (p=0.025, effect size=0.917), with a notable reduction observed in the Yoga group compared to controls. Conclusion Incorporating yoga into pilot training protocols holds promise for better executive/cognitive functions, enhancing stress management and operational performance, reducing the number of errors, and leading to increased flight safety. While yoga may lead to longer completion times for maneuvers, the significant reduction in errors and improvements in stress resilience highlight its potential benefits. However, careful consideration is needed to balance improved precision with operational efficiency.
- The influence of a 12-week yoga program on military aviation pilots' decision-making capacity for operational effectivenessPublication . Santos, Sara; Fernandes, Orlando; Cabo, Carolina A.; Parraca, José A.; Melo, FilipeMilitary aviation demands cognitive performance, emotional stability, and resilience under pressure. Portuguese Airforce pilots face additional challenges: maintaining fitness and readiness independently, without structured exercise regimens. Yoga’s capacity to enhance mindfulness makes it a promising intervention. Despite potential benefits, research on yoga’s impact in military aviation remains limited. This study investigates incorporation of yoga into the training regimen of Portuguese Airforce to verify decision-making effectiveness and performance. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 18 Portuguese Air Force pilots: Control Group (n = 8) followed standard military training, and Intervention Group (n = 10) received aditional yoga training twice a week, for 12 weeks. Assessments included Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Aviation Safety Attitude Scale (ASAS), Risk Perception To Self (RPTS), Trail Making Test (TMT) and aviation simulator performance. Data analysis used Jamovi v2.6.13. The yoga group showed significant improvements in mindfulness (FFMQ), interoceptive awareness (MAIA), self-confidence and safety attitudes (ASAS), cognitive flexibility (TMT-B), and simulator performance (fewer flight errors). Enhancements in attention regulation, body awareness, and emotional self-regulation reflect greater readiness for stress management. Improvements in decision-making, calculated risk-taking, and operational safety suggest yoga’s potential to reinforce psychophysiological resilience in high-demand environments. Yoga contributes meaningfully to enhanced performance and safety in high-pressure aviation environments. These findings may inform policy-level decisions toward integrating mandatory mind-body training programs that are cost-effective and time-efficient. The benefits observed may be applicable to Air Force teams globally, as well as commercial aviation, civil aviation, and other high-stress, high-performance domains, including elite sports. Clinical Trial Registry number and website where it was obtained: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05821270.
- Does a 12-week yoga program influence the decision-making capacity of military aviation pilots?Publication . Santos, Sara; Fernandes, Orlando; Cabo, Carolina A.; Parraca, José A.; Melo, FilipeDoes a 12-week yoga program influence the decision-making capacity of military aviation pilots? Rationale and aims: This study investigates whether the incorporation of yoga practice into the training regimen of Portuguese Airforce Aviation Pilots can enhance their decision-making capacity, in order to promote better occupational health safety. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with Portuguese Airforce pilots had the Control Group (n = 8), follow standard military aviation training, and the Intervention Group (n = 10), receive additional yoga training twice a week for 12 weeks. Cognitive/performance assessments included the Aviation Safety Attitude Scale (ASAS). The procedures were approved by the Évora University research ethics committee (approval number: 21050), and participants gave written informed consent per the Helsinki declaration. The study was registered on April 19, 2023, on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT05821270). Analysis: Data analysis used Jamovi (version 2.3.16). Normality was assessed with the Shapiro-Wilk test, non-parametric data analysis used Wilcoxon rank test and Rank Biserial Correlation for effect sizes. Statistical significance was generally determined with a threshold of 0.05. Findings: Results showed significant differences in ASAS: it indicated significant increases in Self-Confidence (p = 0.021), Risk Orientation (p = 0.024), and Safety Orientation (p = 0.021) within the yoga group. Conclusions: This research offers a unique contribution: studying the hard-to-access population of military aviation pilots, due to security and workload constraints. Portuguese Airforce pilots, facing high stress and lacking a structured training regimen, will benefit from the findings of this study. Results could influence policymakers to implement mandatory exercise programs, enhancing work safety. These insights are also applicable to Airforce teams in other nations, commercial and civil aviation sectors.
- Otimizando a adaptação e performance de pilotos militares na Era TecnológicaPublication . Santos, Sara; Fernandes, Orlando; Parraça, José; Melo, FilipeA profissão de piloto militar é altamente especializada, exigindo um sistema vestibular eficiente e uma resposta rápida a situações de stress (Yang et al., 2015; Wittels et al., 2024). Fatores como stress fisiológico, fadiga e desorientação espacial são intensificados pela evolução tecnológica das aeronaves e simuladores de voo, que, embora cruciais para o treino, podem induzir efeitos colaterais (Whitley, 1997; Koskelo et al., 2024). Estes desafios sublinham a necessidade de novas abordagens para otimizar a adaptação e a performance humana face à transformação tecnológica. Objetivo: Este estudo investigou se uma intervenção de 12 semanas de Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga Supta (AVYS) pode melhorar o desempenho e a segurança em voo de pilotos da Força Aérea Portuguesa, com o intuito de aprimorar a sua adaptação e performance num ambiente tecnologicamente exigente. Método: Foi realizado um Ensaio Clínico Randomizado com pilotos da Força Aérea Portuguesa. O grupo de intervenção praticou AVYS (com olhos fechados) duas vezes por semana. A avaliação do desempenho e adaptação incluiu a resposta a uma emergência em simulador de voo, biossensores para variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (Polar H10), além de questionários validados. Figura 1. Abstract gráfico do artigo de Metodologia do protocolo entre a Força Aérea Portuguesa e a Universidade de Évora já publicado na Frontiers in Public Health e Metodologia da intervenção AVYS. Resultados: O AVYS levou à redução significativa no número de erros em simulação de voo, melhorou a resiliência ao stress através da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, e otimizou a flexibilidade cognitiva. Estes resultados indicam que o AVYS aprimora a performance e a segurança em ambientes de alta pressão, mesmo em indivíduos já altamente treinados. Figura 2. Abstract gráfico do artigo de Ensaio
- The Impact of Yoga practice on health, strength, and respiratory capacity in portuguese Airforce pilots: an applied psychophysiology and biofeedback approachPublication . Santos, Sara; Villafaina, Santos; Parraca, José Alberto; Orlando, Fernandes; Melo, FilipeTop performance in military aviation relies on strong health. Handgrip strength is key, showing overall strength and work capacity. Since rarefied air affects focus and mission success, respiratory training is essential. The impact of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga on Portuguese Air Force Academy pilots from the 2021 and 2022 classes was assessed, aiming to enhance health, lung capacity, and strength. A randomized controlled trial involved 18 individuals from the "Masters in Military Aeronautics: aviator pilot specialist". Participants were randomly assigned to yoga classes (intervention n=10) or a waiting list (control n=8). General health, strength, and respiratory capacity were measured using SF-36 questionnaire, a hand-grip dynamometer, and a spirometer, respectively, before and after a 12-week yoga program. Parametric and non-parametric tests were conducted using Jamovi (version 2.3.26). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05821270, registered on April 19, 2023.Revealed significant within-group differences pre- vs post-intervention for general health, handgrip strength, and FEV1%. There was a significant difference between groups for lung capacity.Yoga participants showcased superior results versus controls, suggesting yoga's positive impact. The yoga protocol, in conjunction with military training, positively affected health, strength, and lung performance, highlighting its operational benefits even in highly trained individuals.
- Yoga practice in mental health – An innovative lowcost solution for the portuguese airforcePublication . Melo, Filipe; Cabo, Carolina Alexandra; Espada, Mário C.; Fernandes, Orlando; Parraca, Jose A.; Santos, SaraBackground: Military aviation demands cognitive performance, emotional stability, and resilience under pressure (1). Yoga’s capacity to reduce stress and enhance mindfulness makes it a promising intervention for aviation pilots (2). Despite these potential benefits, research on yoga’s impact in military aviation re-mains limited. Purpose: This study investigates the incorporation of yoga into the training regimen of Portuguese military pilots for enhancing mindfulness, reducing stress and improving mental health. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with Portuguese Airforce pilots had the Control Group (n = 8), follow standard military aviation training, and the Intervention Group (n = 10), receive additional yoga training twice a week for 12 weeks. Cognitive/performance assessments included: Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (3); Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (4); Aviation Safety Attitude Scale (5); Risk Perception To Self (6); Trail Making Test (7). Data analysis used Jamovi v2.6.13. Results: Significant changes were found in FFMQ (Aware Actions and Non-Judgmental Inner Critic), MA-IA (Noticing, Attention Regulation, and Body Listening), ASAS (Self-Confidence, Risk Orientation, and Safety Orientation) and TMT (B) within the yoga group. Discussion: Significant improvements in mindfulness (FFMQ) and interoceptive awareness (MAIA) sug-gest that yoga fosters better self-regulation and stress management (8). Enhanced cognitive flexibility (TMTB) performance, highlights yoga’s potential to bolster decision-making under pressure. Gains in safe-ty-related attitudes paired with risk-related attitudes (ASAS) underscore yoga’s role in promoting calculat-ed-risk confident behaviour, critical for operational safety. Implementing yoga programs could yield wide-spread benefits, including better mental health among aviation pilots. Conclusion: This research offers a unique contribution: studying the hard-to-access population of military aviation pilots, due to security and workload constraints. Results could influence policymakers to imple-ment mandatory exercise programs, enhancing work safety, with low cost and minimally time-consuming interventions. These insights are also applicable to Airforce teams in other nations, commercial and civil aviation sectors, as well as high stress/high-performance sports.
- Yoga como ferramenta de otimização psicofisiológica no treino de pilotos – contributos e perspetivas futurasPublication . Santos, Sara; Melo, Filipe; Cabo, Carolina; Espada, Mário; Fernandes, Orlando; Parraça, JoséA profissão de piloto de aviação militar exige um sistema vestibular eficiente para a manutenção do equilíbrio e respostas rápidas ao stress (Yang et al., 2015; Wittels et al., 2024). • Fatores como fadiga, hipóxia, forças G, exposição ambiental e aumento do stress psicofisiológico afetam a tomada de decisão (Whitley, 1997; Koskelo et al., 2024). • A transformação tecnológica no setor da aviação intensificou as exigências sobre os pilotos, impondo desafios às capacidades de autorregulação, atenção e tomada de decisão (Koskelo et al., 2024).