The Effect of Yoga on Balance and Fear of Falling in Older Adults

Narjes Nick; Peyman Petramfar; Fariba Ghodsbin; Sareh Keshavarzi; Iran Jahanbin

doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.06.442

The Effect of Yoga on Balance and Fear of Falling in Older Adults

PM R. 2016 Feb;8(2):145-51. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.06.442. Epub 2015 Jul 8.

Authors

Narjes Nick¹, Peyman Petramfar², Fariba Ghodsbin¹, Sareh Keshavarzi³, Iran Jahanbin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Community Health Department, Fatemeh (P.B.U.H) School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Square, Shiraz, Iran(∗)(‡)(§).
² Department of Neurology, Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran(†).
³ Epidemiology Department, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran(¶).
⁴ Community Health Department, Fatemeh (P.B.U.H) School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Square, Shiraz, Iran(∗)(‡)(§). Electronic address: jahanbii@sums.ac.ir.

PMID: 26164350
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.06.442

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of yoga on balance and fear of falling in older adults.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Jahandidegan Center in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Participants: Forty persons (17 men and 23 women) between the ages of 60-74 years with a Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) score <8 and a Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score <45. After completing the MFES questionnaire and BBS measurement, the participants were divided into intervention and control groups. BBS measurement and the MFES questionnaire were completed again immediately after the intervention.

Intervention: The intervention group participated in 2 yoga practice sessions per week for 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention.

Main outcome measurements: Fear of falling was measured with the MFES and balance was measured with the BBS.

Results: We found significant changes in both variables (P < .0001). Mean differences before and after the intervention for the BBS for yoga and control groups were 10.19 and -1.16, respectively. Mean differences before and after the intervention for the MFES for yoga and control groups were 1.62 and -0.21, respectively.

Conclusion: Yoga is a potential intervention to reduce fear of falling and improve balance in older adults.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Accidental Falls*
Age Factors
Aged
Cohort Studies
Fear*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Postural Balance / physiology*
Self Efficacy
Yoga*