OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a custom-designed yoga program with two other balance training programs. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University neuromuscular research laboratory, Miami, US. PARTICIPANTS: A group of 39 older adults (74.15 +/- 6.99 years) with a history of falling. INTERVENTIONS: Three different exercise interventions, Tai Chi, standard balance training (SBEP) or yoga (BYOGA) were given for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Balance performance was examined during pretest and post-test using field tests including the 8-Foot Up and Go, One-Leg Stance, Functional Reach, usual and maximal walking speed. The static and dynamic balance was also assessed by postural sway and dynamic posturography, respectively. RESULTS: Training produced significant improvements in all field tests (p < 0.005), but no group difference or time x group interaction were detected. For postural sway, significant decreases in the area of center of pressure with eyes open (p = 0.001) and closed (p = 0.002) were detected after training. For eyes open, maximums medial-lateral velocity significantly decreased for the sample (p = 0.013). For eyes closed, medial-lateral displacement decreased for Tai Chi (p < 0.01). For dynamic posturography, significant improvements in overall score (p = 0.001), time on the test (p = 0.006) and two linear measures in lateral (p = 0.001) and anterior/posterior (p < 0.001) direction were seen for the sample. CONCLUSIONS: BYOGA was as effective as Tai Chi and SBEP for improving postural stability and may offer an alternative to more traditional programs.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher