"A large proportion of older adults are inactive, and do not meet the balance and muscle strengthening recommendations set by government and international health organizations," said Divya Sivaramakrishnan, from University of Edinburgh.
So, he and a team began reviewing 22 studies that had investigated the effects of yoga on physical and mental well being in older adults. The yoga programs varied in length from one month to seven months, and duration of sessions ranged from 30 to 90 minutes.
"Based on this study, we can conclude that yoga has great potential to improve important physical and psychological outcomes in older adults. Yoga is a gentle activity that can be modified to suit those with age-related conditions and diseases," Sivaramakrishnan said in a statement.
The researchers found that people who practiced yoga had improved balance, flexibility, leg strength, depression, sleep quality, vitality and perceived mental and physical health—compared with no activity. Compared with other activities yoga improved lower body strength, lower body flexibility and depression.
So, he and a team began reviewing 22 studies that had investigated the effects of yoga on physical and mental well being in older adults. The yoga programs varied in length from one month to seven months, and duration of sessions ranged from 30 to 90 minutes.
"Based on this study, we can conclude that yoga has great potential to improve important physical and psychological outcomes in older adults. Yoga is a gentle activity that can be modified to suit those with age-related conditions and diseases," Sivaramakrishnan said in a statement.
The researchers found that people who practiced yoga had improved balance, flexibility, leg strength, depression, sleep quality, vitality and perceived mental and physical health—compared with no activity. Compared with other activities yoga improved lower body strength, lower body flexibility and depression.
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