Adapted yoga to improve physical function and health-related quality of life in physically-inactive older adults: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Tew, Garry ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8610-0613, Howsam, Jenny, Hardy, Matthew and Bissell, Laura (2017) Adapted yoga to improve physical function and health-related quality of life in physically-inactive older adults: a randomised controlled pilot trial. BMC Geriatrics, 17 (1).

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0520-6

Abstract

Background: Yoga is a holistic therapy of expanding popularity, which has the potential to produce a range of
physical, mental and social benefits. This trial evaluated the feasibility and effects of an adapted yoga programme
on physical function and health-related quality of life in physically-inactive older adults.
Methods: In this randomised controlled pilot trial, 52 older adults (90% female; mean age 74.8 years, SD 7.2) were
randomised 1:1 to a yoga programme or wait-list control. The yoga group (n = 25) received a physical activity education
booklet and were invited to attend ten yoga sessions during a 12-week period. The control group (n = 27) received the
education booklet only. Measures of physical function (e.g., Short Physical Performance Battery; SPPB), health
status (EQ-5D) and mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale; WEMWBS) were assessed at
baseline and 3 months. Feasibility was assessed using course attendance and adverse event data, and participant interviews.
Results: Forty-seven participants completed follow-up assessments. Median class attendance was 8 (range 3 to 10). At the
3-month follow-up, the yoga group had a higher SPPB total score compared with the control group (mean difference 0.9,
95% confidence interval [CI] -0.3 to 2.0), a faster time to rise from a chair five times (mean difference − 1.73 s, 95% CI −4.08
to 0.62), and better performance on the chair sit-and-reach lower-limb flexibility test (mean difference 5 cm, 95% CI 0 to 10).
The yoga group also had superior health status and mental well-being (vs. control) at 3 months, with mean differences in
EQ-5D and WEMWBS scores of 0.12 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.21) and 6 (95% CI, 1 to 11), respectively. The interviews indicated that
participants valued attending the yoga programme, and that they experienced a range of benefits.
Conclusions: The adapted yoga programme appeared to be feasible and potentially beneficial in terms of improving
mental and social well-being and aspects of physical function in physically-inactive older adults. An appropriately-powered
trial is required to confirm the findings of the present study and to determine longer-term effects.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02663726.
Keywords: Mind-body therapies, Randomised controlled trial, Aged, Physical fitness, Mental health

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0520-6
School/Department:	School of Science, Technology and Health
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/6750