Yoga-based exercise improves health-related quality of life and mental well-being in older people: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials Randomized, controlled, six-month trial of yoga in healthy seniors: effects on cognition and quality of life. Adapted yoga to improve physical function and health-related quality of life in physically-inactive older adults: a randomised controlled pilot trial Using silver yoga exercises to promote physical and mental health of elders with dementia in long-term care facilities. Randomized controlled trial of yoga among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients: effects on quality of life. Longitudinal impact of yoga on chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and quality of life in women with early stage breast cancer: a case series. A randomized controlled pilot study of the therapeutic effects of yoga in people with Parkinson's disease The feasibility and benefits of a 12-week yoga intervention for pediatric cancer out-patients. Effects of yoga intervention on sleep and quality-of-life in elderly: A randomized controlled trial Yoga Is as Good as Stretching-Strengthening Exercises in Improving Functional Fitness Outcomes: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial. Yoga for Patients with Early Breast Cancer and its Impact on Quality of Life - a Randomized Controlled Trial. Yoga respiratory training improves respiratory function and cardiac sympathovagal balance in elderly subjects: a randomised controlled trial Community based yoga classes for type 2 diabetes: an exploratory randomised controlled trial A responder analysis of the effects of yoga for individuals with COPD: who benefits and how? Participant Characteristics Associated with Symptomatic Improvement from Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain Physical fitness of older adults in senior activity centres after 24-week silver yoga exercises. Yoga therapy decreases dyspnea-related distress and improves functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) and mental well-being are associated with healthy ageing . Physical activity positively impacts both HRQOL and mental well-being .  Yoga is a physical activity that can be modified to suits the needs of older people and is growing in popularity . We conducted a systematic review with meta- analysis to determine the impact of yoga-based exercise on  HRQOL and mental well-being in people aged 60 + . METHODS search es were conducted for relevant trials in the following electronic data bases ; MEDLINE , EMBASE , Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials , CINAHL , Allied and Complementary Medicine Data base , PsycINFO and the Physiotherapy Evidence Data base ( PEDro ) from inception to January 2017 . Trials that evaluated the effect of physical yoga on HRQOL and /or on mental well-being  in people aged 60 + years were included . Data on HRQOL and mental well-being were extracted . St and ardised mean differences and 95 % confidence intervals ( CI ) were calculated using r and om effects models . Method ological quality of trials was assessed using the PEDro scale . RESULTS twelve trials of high method ological quality ( mean PEDro score 6.1 ) , totalling 752 participants , were identified and provided data for the meta- analysis . Yoga produced a medium effect on HRQOL ( Hedges ' g = 0.51 , 95 % CI 0.25 - 0.76 , 12 trials ) and a small effect on mental well-being ( Hedges ' g = 0.38 , 95 % CI 0.15 - 0.62 , 12 trials ) . CONCLUSION yoga interventions result ed in small to moderate improvements in both HRQOL and mental well-being in people aged 60 + years . Further , research is needed to determine the optimal dose of yoga to maximise health impact . PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER ( CRD42016052458 ) CONTEXT There are potential benefits of mind-body techniques on cognitive function because the techniques involve an active attentional or mindfulness component , but this has not been fully explored . OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of yoga on cognitive function , fatigue , mood , and quality of life in seniors . DESIGN R and omized , controlled trial comparing yoga , exercise , and wait-list control groups . PARTICIPANTS One hundred thirty-five generally healthy men and women aged 65 - 85 years . INTERVENTION Participants were r and omized to 6 months of Hatha yoga class , walking exercise class , or wait-list control . Subjects assigned to classes also were asked to practice at home . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcome assessment s performed at baseline and after the 6-month period included a battery of cognitive measures focused on attention and alertness , the primary outcome measures being performance on the Stroop Test and a quantitative electroencephalogram ( EEG ) measure of alertness ; SF-36 health-related quality of life ; Profile of Mood States ; Multi-Dimensional Fatigue Inventory ; and physical measures related to the interventions . RESULTS One hundred thirty-five subjects were recruited and r and omized . Seventeen subjects did not finish the 6-month intervention . There were no effects from either of the active interventions on any of the cognitive and alertness outcome measures . The yoga intervention produced improvements in physical measures ( eg , timed 1-legged st and ing , forward flexibility ) as well as a number of quality -of-life measures related to sense of well-being and energy and fatigue compared to controls . CONCLUSIONS There were no relative improvements of cognitive function among healthy seniors in the yoga or exercise group compared to the wait-list control group . Those in the yoga group showed significant improvement in quality -of-life and physical measures compared to exercise and wait-list control groups Background Yoga is a holistic therapy of exp and ing 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 r and omised controlled pilot trial , 52 older adults ( 90 % female ; mean age 74.8 years , SD 7.2 ) were r and omised 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 assessment s. 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 Clinical Trials.govNCT02663726 BACKGROUND This study aim ed to test the effects of yoga exercises on the physical and mental health of elderly people with dementia living in long-term care facilities . METHODS A quasi-experimental , pretest-post-test design was used . A convenience sample of 68 residents in long-term care facilities in southern Taiwan , aged 60 years and above with mild to moderate dementia , was selected . An experimental group of 33 elders participated in a 12-week yoga training program of three 55-minute sessions a week ; a control group of 35 elders maintained their usual daily activities . Data were collected before and after completing the 12-week study . Measurements included body composition , cardiopulmonary functions , body flexibility , muscle strength and endurance , balance , joints motion , depression , and problem behaviors . RESULTS The yoga-trained participants had better physical and mental health than those who did not participate , including lowered blood pressure , reduced respiration rate , strengthened cardiopulmonary fitness , enhanced body flexibility , improved muscle strength and endurance , improved balance , and increased joints motion ( all p values < 0.05 ) . In addition , the depression state ( p < 0.001 ) and problem behaviors ( p < 0.001 ) of these demented elders were significantly reduced . CONCLUSION Yoga exercise has positive benefits for both the physical and mental health of elders with dementia living in long-term care facilities . It is recommended that yoga be included as one of the routine activities in these long-term care facilities PURPOSE This study examines the impact of yoga , including physical poses , breathing , and meditation exercises , on quality of life ( QOL ) , fatigue , distressed mood , and spiritual well-being among a multiethnic sample of breast cancer patients . PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred twenty-eight patients ( 42 % African American , 31 % Hispanic ) recruited from an urban cancer center were r and omly assigned ( 2:1 ratio ) to a 12-week yoga intervention ( n = 84 ) or a 12-week waitlist control group ( n = 44 ) . Changes in QOL ( eg , Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy ) from before r and om assignment ( T1 ) to the 3-month follow-up ( T3 ) were examined ; predictors of adherence were also assessed . Nearly half of all patients were receiving medical treatment . RESULTS Regression analyses indicated that the control group had a greater decrease in social well-being compared with the intervention group after controlling for baseline social well-being and covariates ( P < .0001 ) . Secondary analyses of 71 patients not receiving chemotherapy during the intervention period indicated favorable outcomes for the intervention group compared with the control group in overall QOL ( P < .008 ) , emotional well-being ( P < .015 ) , social well-being ( P < .004 ) , spiritual well-being ( P < .009 ) , and distressed mood ( P < .031 ) . Sixty-nine percent of intervention participants attended classes ( mean number of classes attended by active class participants = 7.00 + /- 3.80 ) , with lower adherence associated with increased fatigue ( P < .001 ) , radiotherapy ( P < .0001 ) , younger age ( P < .008 ) , and no  antiestrogen therapy  ( P < .02 ) . CONCLUSION Despite limited adherence , this intent-to-treat analysis suggests that yoga is associated with beneficial effects on social functioning among a medically diverse sample of breast cancer survivors . Among patients not receiving chemotherapy , yoga appears to enhance emotional well-being and mood and may serve to buffer deterioration in both overall and specific domains of QOL PURPOSE Adjuvant chemotherapy for women with breast cancer has significantly improved the cure rate ; however , it has been associated with chemotherapy-related cognitive impact ( CRCI ) . The literature provides preliminary support for the feasibility and efficacy of yoga interventions for the general cancer population , however , controlled trials are scarce and no studies have examined the effect of yoga on cognition for women with breast cancer during chemotherapy . This case series aims to identify the impact of yoga on measures of cognition , functional outcomes , and quality of life ( QOL ) for breast cancer survivors ( BCS ) . METHODS Four women with a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer prior to chemotherapy treatment were administered the following physiologic measures at baseline , 6 , and 12 weeks during chemotherapy , and at one and three months after the conclusion of the study : Functional Reach test ( balance ) and Sit and Reach test ( flexibility ) , and QOL , POMS ( Mood ) and FACT-B ( QOL ) , at baseline . Primary outcomes of cognition were measured with the Perceived Cognition Question naire ( PCQ ) and CogState , a computerized measurement of cognition . Women attended an Iyengar-inspired yoga program twice a week for 12 weeks . Qualitative question naires were administered after the completion of the study to determine perceived benefits and challenges of the yoga program . RESULTS Four women with Stage II breast cancer ranged in age from 44 - 65 years . CogState computerized testing showed changes in varying domains of cognition through treatment and follow-up . Improved balance , flexibility , and QOL were also noted over time . No adverse events were observed . Analysis of qualitative data revealed the yoga classes were helpful and subjects continued the practice elements of yoga including relaxation , breathing , and stretching . The most challenging aspect of the study was physical limitations due to various medical complications and included fatigue , decreased range of motion , and pain . CONCLUSION This case series suggests that yoga may impact various aspects of cognition during and after chemotherapy administration as noted through quantitative measures . Women describe yoga as improving various domains of QOL through the treatment trajectory . This mind-body intervention may stave off CRCI ; however , further investigation is needed for additional r and omized controlled trials on the effects of yoga on cognition for women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy treatment Background : Exercise can be beneficial for cardiopulmonary , musculoskeletal or neurological systems , and other factors including mood , and may be beneficial in reducing fall risks , dementia and variables associated with quality of life ( QOL ) . Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) produces progressive motor and cognitive deterioration that may leave those inflicted unable to participate in st and ard exercise programs . Alternative forms of exercise such as yoga may be successful in improving physical function , QOL and physiological variables for overall well-being . Aim : This r and omized controlled pilot study investigated the effectiveness of yoga intervention on physiological and health-related QOL measures in people with PD . Methods and Material s : Thirteen people with stage 1 - 2 PD were r and omized to either a yoga ( n = 8) or a control group ( n = 5 ) . The yoga group participated in twice-weekly yoga sessions for 12 weeks . Participants were tested at baseline , and at 6 and 12 weeks using the Unified Parkinson 's Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) , clinical measures of health-related QOL and physiological measures . Results : Significant improvement in UPDRS scores ( P = .006 ) , diastolic blood pressure ( P = 0.036 ) and average forced vital capacity ( P = 0.03 ) was noted in the yoga group over time . Changes between groups were also noted in two SF-36 subscales . Positive trends of improvement were noted in depression scores ( P = 0.056 ) , body weight ( P = 0.056 ) and forced expiratory volume ( P = 0.059 ) . Yoga participants reported more positive symptom changes including immediate tremor reduction . Conclusions : The results suggest that yoga may improve aspects of QOL and physiological functions in stages 1 - 2 PD . Future larger studies are needed to confirm and extend our findings of the effects of yoga in PD BACKGROUND Increasing rates of survival present a new set of psychosocial and physical challenges for children undergoing treatment for cancer .  Physical activity ( PA ) has been shown to be a safe and effective strategy to mitigate the significant burden of cancer and its treatments , with yoga increasingly gaining recognition as a gentle alternative . The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and benefits of a 12-week community-based yoga intervention on health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) , select physical fitness outcomes and PA levels ( PAL ) . PROCEDURE Eight pediatric cancer out- patients ( 4 male ; 4 female ; Mage = 11.88 , SD = 4.26 ) participated in the 12-week intervention consisting of supervised yoga sessions 2 times/week . Participants ( patients and parent proxies ) completed measures assessing HRQL , physical fitness and PAL at baseline and post-intervention . RESULTS Rates of recruitment , retention , attendance and adverse events indicated the program was feasible . Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests indicated significant improvements for patient ( P = 0.02 ) and parent reported HRQL ( P = 0.03 ) , functional mobility ( P = 0.01 ) , hamstring flexibility ( left , P = 0.01 and right P = 0.02 ) , and total PAL ( P = 0.02 ) pre to post intervention . CONCLUSION This 12-week community-based yoga intervention was feasible and provides preliminary evidence for the benefits of yoga on HRQL , physical fitness and PAL in pediatric cancer out- patients . In a population where sedentary behavior and the associated co-morbidities are a growing concern , these results promote the continued exploration of yoga programming Context : Yoga as a life-style practice has demonstrated beneficial effects . The role of yoga in the elderly for such benefits merits investigation . Aims : The aim of this study is to examine the effects of yoga intervention on quality -of-life ( QOL ) and sleep quality in the elderly living in old age homes . Setting s and Design : Single blind controlled study with block r and omization of elderly homes . Material s and Methods : A total of 120 subjects from nine elderly homes were r and omized in to yoga group ( n=62 ) and waitlist group ( n=58 ) . Subjects in the yoga group were given yoga intervention daily for 1 month and weekly until 3 months and were encouraged to practice yoga without supervision until for 6 months . Subjects in waitlist group received no intervention during this period . Subjects were evaluated with World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF for measuring QOL and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep quality in the baseline and after 6 months . Statistical Analysis : Independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of covariance respectively was used to measure the difference in outcome measures between the two groups at baseline and after the study period . Results : Subjects in the yoga group had significantly higher number of years of formal education . Subjects in the yoga group had significant improvement in all the domains of QOL and total sleep quality after controlling for the effect of baseline difference in education between the two groups . Conclusion : Yoga intervention appears to improve the QOL and sleep quality of elderly living in old age homes . There is a need for further studies overcoming the limitations in this study to confirm the benefits of yoga for elderly in QOL and sleep quality BACKGROUND Despite yoga 's popularity , few clinical trials have employed rigorous methodology to systematic ally explore its functional benefits compared with more established forms of exercise . The objective of this study was to compare the functional benefits of yoga with the conventional stretching-strengthening exercises recommended for adults . METHODS Sedentary healthy adults ( N = 118 ; M age = 62.0 ) participated in an 8-week ( three times a week for 1 hour ) r and omized controlled trial , which consisted of a Hatha yoga group ( n = 61 ) and a stretching-strengthening exercise group ( n = 57 ) . St and ardized functional fitness tests assessing balance , strength , flexibility , and mobility were administered at baseline and postintervention . RESULTS A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance showed a significant time effect for measures of balance [ F(3,18 ) = 4.88 , p < .01 , partial η(2 ) = .45 ] , strength [ F(2,19 ) = 15.37 , p < .001 , partial η(2 ) = .62 ] , flexibility [ F(4,17 ) = 8.86 , p < .001 , partial η(2 ) = .68 ] , and mobility [ F(2,19 ) = 8.54 , p < .002 , partial η(2 ) = .47 ] . Both groups showed significant improvements on measures of balance ( left-right leg and four square step ) ; strength ( chair st and s and arm curls ) ; flexibility ( back scratch and sit- and -reach ) ; and mobility ( gait speed and 8-feet up and go ) , with partial η(2 ) ranging from .05 to .47 . CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that regular yoga practice is just as effective as stretching-strengthening exercises in improving functional fitness . To our knowledge , this is the first study to examine functional benefits of yoga in comparison with stretching-strengthening exercises in sedentary , healthy , community-dwelling older adults . These findings have clinical implication s as yoga is a more amenable form of exercise than strengthening exercises as it requires minimal equipment and can be adapted for individuals with lower levels of functioning or disabilities The aim of this prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial was to investigate the impact of yoga on newly diagnosed patients with early breast cancer in the immediate postoperative phase . 93 women newly diagnosed with early breast cancer were r and omized into an  intervention group ( IG ) and a control group ( waiting group , WG ) . The IG started yoga immediately after the operation . The WG started yoga 5 weeks after surgery . Both groups attended yoga classes twice weekly for 5 weeks . Quality of life ( QoL ) was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 question naires before the intervention , immediately after the operation and after 3 months . After 3 months the patients were asked whether yoga improved their physical activity and whether they wished to continue with yoga . The overall QoL ( p = 0.002 ) and the functional status ( p = 0.005 ) increased significantly in the IG , while physical symptoms decreased over time in both groups . 86 % of patients in the IG and only 59 % of patients in the WG ( p = 0.04 ) confirmed a positive change in their physical activity through yoga . More women in the IG intended to continue with yoga ( p = 0.03 ) . Early initiation of yoga as a supportive treatment in cancer had a positive impact on QoL. Teaching yoga allowed patients to practice yoga by themselves , enhanced the patients ' QoL and was found to improve physical activity Objectives Since ageing is associated with a decline in pulmonary function , heart rate variability and spontaneous baroreflex , and recent studies suggest that yoga respiratory exercises may improve respiratory and cardiovascular function , we hypothesised that yoga respiratory training may improve respiratory function and cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy elderly subjects . Design 76 healthy elderly subjects were enrolled in a r and omised control trial in Brazil and 29 completed the study ( age 68±6 years , 34 % males , body mass index 25±3 kg/m2 ) . Subjects were r and omised into a 4-month training program ( 2 classes/week plus home exercises ) of either stretching ( control , n=14 ) or respiratory exercises ( yoga , n=15 ) . Yoga respiratory exercises ( Bhastrika ) consisted of rapid forced expirations followed by inspiration through the right nostril , inspiratory apnoea with generation of intrathoracic negative pressure , and expiration through the left nostril . Pulmonary function , maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures ( PEmax and PImax , respectively ) , heart rate variability and blood pressure variability for spontaneous baroreflex determination were determined at baseline and after 4 months . Results Subjects in both groups had similar demographic parameters . Physiological variables did not change after 4 months in the control group . However , in the yoga group , there were significant increases in PEmax ( 34 % , p<0.0001 ) and PImax ( 26 % , p<0.0001 ) and a significant decrease in the low frequency component ( a marker of cardiac sympathetic modulation ) and low frequency/high frequency ratio ( marker of sympathovagal balance ) of heart rate variability ( 40 % , p<0.001 ) . Spontaneous baroreflex did not change , and quality of life only marginally increased in the yoga group . Conclusion Respiratory yoga training may be beneficial for the elderly healthy population by improving respiratory function and sympathovagal balance . Trial Registration CinicalTrials.gov identifier : NCT00969345 ; trial registry name : Effects of respiratory yoga training ( Bhastrika ) on heart rate variability and baroreflex , and quality of life of healthy elderly subjects Background Yoga is a popular therapy for diabetes but its efficacy is contested . The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of research ing community based yoga classes in Type 2 diabetes with a view to informing the design of a definitive , multi-centre trial Methods The study design was an exploratory r and omised controlled trial with in-depth process evaluation . The setting was two multi-ethnic boroughs in London , UK ; one with average and one with low mean socio-economic deprivation score . Classes were held at a sports centre or GP surgery . Participants were 59 people with Type 2 diabetes not taking insulin , recruited from general practice lists or opportunistically by general practice staff . The intervention group were offered 12 weeks of a twice-weekly 90-minute yoga class ; the control group was a waiting list for the yoga classes . Both groups received advice and leaflets on healthy lifestyle and were encouraged to exercise . Primary outcome measure was HbA1c . Secondary outcome measures included attendance , weight , waist circumference , lipid levels , blood pressure , UKPDS cardiovascular risk score , diabetes-related quality of life ( ADDQoL ) , and self-efficacy . Process measures were attendance at yoga sessions , self-reported frequency of practice between taught sessions , and qualitative data ( interviews with patients and therapists , ethnographic observation of the yoga classes , and analysis of documents including minutes of meetings , correspondence , and exercise plans ) . Results Despite broad inclusion criteria , around two-thirds of the patients on GP diabetic registers proved ineligible , and 90 % of the remainder declined to participate . Mean age of participants was 60 + /- 10 years .  Attendance at yoga classes was around 50 % . Nobody did the exercises regularly at home . Yoga teachers felt that most participants were unsuitable for ' st and ard ' yoga exercises because of limited flexibility , lack of basic fitness , co-morbidity , and lack of confidence . There was a small fall in HbA1c in the yoga group which was not statistically significant and which was not sustained six months later , and no significant change in other outcome measures . Conclusion The benefits of yoga in type 2 diabetes suggested in some previous studies were not confirmed . Possible explanations ( apart from lack of efficacy ) include recruitment challenges ; practical and motivational barriers to class attendance ; physical and motivational barriers to engaging in the exercises ; inadequate intensity and /or duration of yoga intervention ; and insufficient personalisation of exercises to individual needs . All these factors should be considered when design ing future trials . Trial registration National Research Register ( 1410 ) and Current Controlled Trials ( IS RCT N63637211 ) BACKGROUND We previously reported that a twice-weekly , modified Iyengar yoga program was a safe and viable self-management strategy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . 1 OBJECTIVE The primary purpose of this exploratory analysis was to classify yoga participants into 1 of 3 responder categories by using minimum clinical ly important difference ( MCID ) criteria for each of 3 variables : 6-minute walk distance ( 6MW ) , distress related to dyspnea ( shortness of breath ; DD ) , and functional performance ( FPI ) . Changes in health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) and in psychological well-being ( anxiety and depression ) , and participants ' self-reported improvements by responder category were also examined . A secondary goal was to identify baseline participant characteristics , including initial r and omization assignment that might predict response to treatment . METHODS Participants were r and omly assigned to either an initial yoga ( IY ) or an enhanced wait-list control ( WLC ) group . Those in the WLC group were offered the yoga program immediately following the IY group 's participation . Individuals from both groups who completed at least 18 of 24 yoga classes were categorized as responders , partial responders , or non-responders for each of the 3 outcome variables ( 6MW , DD , FPI ) on the basis of MCID criteria . Baseline characteristics and changes in HRQL and psychological well-being were also analyzed . RESULTS None of the participants demonstrated MCIDs for all 3 outcomes ; however , 6 were classified as responders for 2 out-come variables and 4 were classified as non-responders for all 3 outcome variables . Two-thirds of the female participant group and one-third of the male participant group completed the yoga program . DD responders showed increased anxiety levels , whereas anxiety levels of the DD non-responders remained unchanged . FPI responders reported significant improvements in physical function , whereas partial and non-FPI responders noted declined function . Participants assigned to the IY group demonstrated greater benefit from yoga than did those in the W LC group . CONCLUSIONS Although this modified Iyengar yoga program appears to have benefited some individuals with COPD , further studies are required to assess who the intervention works for and under what conditions Context Studies suggest that yoga is effective for moderate to severe chronic low back pain ( cLBP ) in diverse predominantly lower socioeconomic status population s. However , little is known about factors associated with benefit from the yoga intervention . Objective Identify factors at baseline independently associated with greater efficacy among participants in a study of yoga for cLBP . Design From September – December 2011 , a 12-week r and omized dosing trial was conducted comparing weekly vs. twice-weekly 75-minute hatha yoga classes for 95 predominantly low-income minority adults with nonspecific cLBP . Participant characteristics collected at baseline were used to determine factors beyond treatment assignment ( reported in the initial study ) that predicted outcome . We used bivariate testing to identify baseline characteristics associated with improvement in function and pain , and included select factors in a multivariate linear regression . Setting Recruitment and classes occurred in an academic safety-net hospital and five affiliated community health centers in Boston , Massachusetts . Participants Ninety-five adults with nonspecific cLBP , ages ranging from 20–64 ( mean 48 ) years ; 72 women and 23 men . Outcome measures Primary outcomes were changes in back-related function ( modified Rol and -Morris Disability Question naire , RMDQ ; 0–23 ) and mean low back pain intensity ( 0–10 ) in the previous week , from baseline to week 12 . Results Adjusting for group assignment , baseline RMDQ , age , and gender , foreign nationality and lower baseline SF36 physical component score ( PCS ) were independently associated with improvement in RMDQ . Greater than high school education level , cLBP less than 1 year , and lower baseline SF36 PCS were independently associated with improvement in pain intensity . Other demographics including race , income , gender , BMI , and use of pain medications were not associated with either outcome . Conclusions Poor physical health at baseline is associated with greater improvement from yoga in back-related function and pain . Race , income , and body mass index do not affect the potential for a person with low back pain to experience benefit from yoga AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Promoting physical fitness of young-older adults is essential in reducing healthcare expenditures which would occur in the future for those with chronic health problems . The silver yoga exercise programme was developed to accommo date the reduced body flexibility experienced by many older adults and was critically review ed by experts and pilot-tested with community-dwelling older adults . This study aim ed to test older adults ' physical fitness after a 24-week silver yoga exercise programme and to examine whether the programme could be further shortened to fit senior activity centres ' programme design s. DESIGN A quasi-experimental , pre-post tests design was used : baseline , at 12-week and at 24-week periods . METHODS Convenience sample s of 204 subjects were recruited from eight senior activity centres and 176 subjects completed the study . Subjects were r and omly assigned into three groups based on the centres : ( 1 ) Experiment I : complete silver yoga with stretching and meditation , ( 2 ) Experiment II : shortened silver yoga without the guided-imagery meditation and ( 3 ) Wait-list control . The interventions were conducted three times per week for 24 weeks . Physical fitness indicators included body compositions , cardiovascular-respiratory functions , physical functions and the range of motion . RESULTS At the end of the 24-week period , the physical fitness of subjects in Experiments I and II had significantly improved whether or not guided-imagery meditation was used and all had better physical fitness than subjects in the control group ( all p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS The physical fitness of older adults in both the 70-minute complete silver yoga group and the 55-minute shortened silver yoga group had significantly improved after the interventions . It was recommended that the silver yoga programme be shortened by eliminating the guided-imagery meditation . RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The shortened silver yoga exercise programme is recommended to be incorporated as an activity programme in community- setting s to promote the physical fitness of older adults BACKGROUND There has been limited study of yoga training as a complementary exercise strategy to manage the symptom of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . PURPOSE The primary purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a yoga program for its safety , feasibility , and efficacy for decreasing dyspnea intensity ( DI ) and dyspnea-related distress ( DD ) in older adults with COPD . METHODS Clinical ly stable patients with COPD ( n = 29 ; age 69.9 + /- 9.5 ; forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( FEV(1 ) ) 47.7 + /- 15.6 % predicted ; female = 21 ) were r and omized to a 12-week yoga program specifically design ed for people with COPD or usual-care control  ( UC ) . The twice-weekly yoga program included asanas ( yoga postures ) and visama vritti pranayama ( timed breathing ) . Safety measure outcomes included heart rate , oxygen saturation , dyspnea , and pain . Feasibility was measured by patient-reported enjoyment , difficulty , and adherence to yoga sessions . At baseline and at 12 weeks , DI and DD were measured during incremental cycle ergometry and a 6-minute walk ( 6MW ) test . Secondary efficacy outcomes included physical performance , psychologic well-being , and health-related quality of life ( HRQoL ) . RESULTS Yoga training was safe and feasible for patients with COPD . While yoga training had only small effects on DI after the 6MW test ( effect size [ ES ] , 0.20 ; p = 0.60 ) , there were greater reductions in DD in the yoga group compared to UC ( ES , 0.67 ; p = 0.08 ) . Yoga training also improved 6MW distance ( + 71.7 + /- 21.8 feet versus -27.6 + /- 36.2 feet ; ES = 0.78 , p = 0.04 ) and self-reported functional performance ( ES = 0.79 , p = 0.04 ) compared to UC . There were small positive changes in muscle strength and HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with COPD participated safely in a 12-week yoga program especially design ed for patients with this chronic illness . After the program , the subjects tolerated more activity with less DD and improved their functional performance . These findings need to be confirmed in a larger , more sufficiently powered efficacy study
Conclusion This review is the first to compare the effects of yoga with active and inactive controls in older adults not characterised by a specific clinical condition .
Results indicate that yoga interventions improve multiple physical function and HRQoL outcomes in this population compared to both control conditions .
This study provides robust evidence for promoting yoga in physical activity guidelines for older adults as a multimodal activity that improves aspects of fitness like strength , balance and flexibility , as well as mental wellbeing .
Background Yoga has been recommended as a muscle strengthening and balance activity in national and global physical activity guidelines .
However , the evidence base establishing the effectiveness of yoga in improving physical function and health related quality of life ( HRQoL ) in an older adult population not recruited on the basis of any specific disease or condition , has not been systematic ally review ed .
The objective of this study was to synthesis e existing evidence on the effects of yoga on physical function and HRQoL in older adults not characterised by any specific clinical condition .