Can Yoga Pranayama Practices Improve Burnout in Elite Mountain Bikers: A Single-arm Pilot Study

Mountain bike (MTB) racing is a highly intensive physical activity and requires a high degree of technical ability to perform at the elite athlete level, which might compromise mental well-being, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression through overtraining, injury, and burnout. Yoga Pranayama is the key to bringing about psychosomatic integration and harmony. This study aimed to explore the effects of yoga pranayama practices (YPP) on elite mountain bikers’ burnout. This is a single-arm pilot study. Twenty-seven subjects practiced 30 sessions of YPP seven times a week for 1 month. The outcomes measured were blood biochemical parameters accompanied by complete blood count and athlete burnout score. Cubital vein blood test and burnout questionnaire were conducted at baseline and after 1 month. Test results showed a significant decrease in cortisol (CO) (P = 0.001) and urea nitrogen (P < 0.001) and an increase in testosterone: CO ratio (P = 0.001). This study indicates that YPP might improve burnout in elite mountain bikers.