Can yoga benefit older people with long-term health problems?

The researchers are studying the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of a yoga program specifically tailored for older people with multiple long-term health problems.

The results of the study will provide health care commissioners with evidence about the opportunity to fund yoga programs in the NHS.

The £ 1.4 million study recruits close to 600 adults aged 65 and over with multiple morbidities from 12 different UK locations. The main purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of a yoga program on the overall quality of life of people.

The York University Test Unit coordinates clinical trials with the Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Department of Northumbria University.

12 weeks program

Helen Tilbrook, Testing Manager at the York University Test Unit, said: "The test involves two groups of participants: a group that continues to receive their usual care without additional support while the latter receives their usual care plus an invitation to join them, a 12-week yoga program.

"The Gentle Years Yoga program of the British Yoga Wheel includes weekly group sessions and encouragement to practice specific yoga practices at home.

"The participants' progress will then be evaluated after three, six and twelve months in order to follow the evolution of their quality of life and their mental health."

Quality of life

The current yoga postures are adapted as part of the program so that they can be performed using chairs for example; This allows inactive older people with chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and dementia to participate safely.

In addition to badessing the overall quality of life as a result of participating in the program, researchers will also review any changes in reported levels of depression and anxiety, and indicate whether participants experience fewer falls due from the improvement of physical function.

Health Resources

Associate Professor Garry Tew of Northumbria's Department of Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation said, "It is thought that yoga brings many benefits, including increased strength, flexibility, balance and quality of life, as well as a reduction of stress, anxiety and depression.

"In older people in particular, there is promising evidence that yoga can improve physical function and quality of life, but more needs to be done to understand the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of yoga in older people with Alzheimer's disease. multiple morbidity.

"We also measure the use of health care resources by participants, which will allow us to establish the cost-effectiveness of the yoga program.If these results are positive, they will provide evidence that the health care commissioners of health fund yoga within the NHS. "

The results of an earlier pilot trial demonstrated not only the benefits of exercise, but also that yoga clbades were a positive social element, thus helping to reduce the feeling of isolation.

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