A systematic review of 33 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found that yoga improved walking speed and lower extremity strength in inactive older people. However, yoga did not provide any benefit for frailty markers compared to exercise or exercise-like activities.
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Older adults have an increased burden of chronic disease, disability, and frailty. Frailty affects 50 percent of adults age 80 and older, and its prevention and management are high priority areas in public health and clinical practice. Yoga can be a prevention and management strategy and is already used to improve balance and mobility in older adults.
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School reviewed 33 RCTs of 2,384 participants aged 65 years or older to evaluate the available trial evidence on the effectiveness of yoga-based interventions in older adults.
The authors analyzed effects on frailty markers including walking speed, hand grip strength, balance, lower extremity strength and endurance, and multicomponent physical performance measures.
The authors found that compared to education only or inactive control groups, there was moderate evidence that yoga improved gait speed and lower body strength and endurance. The benefits to balance and handgrip strength were less certain. While there was no clear benefit for any particular style of yoga, the authors suggest that practitioners may consider recommending Iyengar-based styles, along with home practice, that can be adapted for the older adult population. These findings add to a growing literature Yoga plays a role in healthy aging and prevention of frailty.
Source: Eurekalert
