Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Yoga Practice on Physical Fitness in the Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to meta-analyze the effects of yoga intervention on physical fitness in the elderly. The following databases were systematically searched in 25 March 2021: Cochrane, PubMed and Embase. A total of 656 papers was identified through key word combinations, finally, 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The main conclusions are as follows. First, yoga practice showed moderately positive effects on muscle strength, balance, mobility, and lower body flexibility, but had no significant effect on cardiorespiratory endurance and upper body flexibility. Second, sub-group analysis showed that subjects in their 60s and 70s and yoga practice for 9–12 weeks had a large positive effect on physical fitness. Yoga is a multimodal activity that improves muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in the elderly, and physical activity policies should continue to promote yoga as an activity that enhances physical and mental wellbeing in this population.

The Effect of Yoga on Health-Related Fitness among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Our results were consistent with previous systematic reviews showing yoga benefits on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness among the general population, elderly, and individuals with overweight or obesity [ 22 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Previous meta-analyses found a moderate effect size of yoga on muscle strength but there was heterogeneity [ 22 , 51 ].…”

“…Our results were consistent with previous systematic reviews showing yoga benefits on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness among the general population, elderly, and individuals with overweight or obesity [ 22 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. Previous meta-analyses found a moderate effect size of yoga on muscle strength but there was heterogeneity [ 22 , 51 ]. The presence of medical conditions could be the source of clinical heterogeneity in the previous studies since our meta-analysis did not find any heterogeneity among patients with T2DM.…”

“…The presence of medical conditions could be the source of clinical heterogeneity in the previous studies since our meta-analysis did not find any heterogeneity among patients with T2DM. Regarding the cardiorespiratory fitness outcome, the previous study also found a small effect size with a wide CI from three primary studies [ 51 ]. The uncertainty in cardiorespiratory outcome indicated the need to conduct more research on this outcome [ 54 ].…”

Harnessing the benefits of yoga for myositis, muscle dystrophies, and other musculoskeletal disorders

“…In elderly cohorts, declining muscle function is a major contributor to falls risk and reduced ability to perform activities of daily living [ 67 ]. Meta-analyses examining the effects of yoga in the elderly population reported improved physical fitness, muscle strength, power, endurance, flexibility in those in their 60 s and 70 s [ 57 , 67 ].…”

“…In elderly cohorts, declining muscle function is a major contributor to falls risk and reduced ability to perform activities of daily living [ 67 ]. Meta-analyses examining the effects of yoga in the elderly population reported improved physical fitness, muscle strength, power, endurance, flexibility in those in their 60 s and 70 s [ 57 , 67 ]. In a study of 7 trials with 1033 participants, bi-weekly 45 min yoga sessions showed a significant improvement in fatigue in the elderly, at 3 months post-intervention when compared to controls [SMD: − 0.40, 95% CI − 0.62 to − 0.18], though this effect did not persist long-term [ 68 ].…”