Effects of yoga on physical and psychological health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To synthesise and critically appraise the quality of existing evidence about the effects of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants aged 60 and above.

MEASUREMENTS

Nine English and two Chinese electronic bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE OvidSP, PsycINFO, AMED, EMBASE, Global Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Hyread and WanFang databases, were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults were included. Meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes studied in three or more studies, otherwise narrative synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included for review. The results of meta-analysis after sensitivity analysis showed that yoga significantly improved balance (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.48-1.14, p < .001, II  = 59%), flexibility (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.07-0.68, p = .020, II 34%), muscle strength (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.18-0.79, p = .002, I 43%) and depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.09-0.91, p = .01, I 0%). There was insufficient data for meta-analysis on gait and other psychological outcomes. Narrative synthesis suggested that yoga has positive effects on reducing anxiety, but its effects on improving gait and reducing stress among older adults were inconclusive.

CONCLUSION

The results of this review supported the beneficial effects of yoga on physical outcomes among older adults, but the heterogeneity across studies was relatively high. Evidence related to the effect on psychological outcomes was limited.