To examine whether Yoga classes can relieve arthritis symptoms in older adults, Yoga classes were offered once a week for six weeks to 23 older adults (mean age 71; 19 of the 23 were diagnosed with arthritis) in four different senior institutions in East Harlem, New York. Most participants were of Puerto Rican or Spanish-speaking origins, and all had low incomes and little knowledge of or prior exposure to Yoga. Self-reported levels of pain, stiffness and sleeplessness were collected at the beginning and end of the six-week Yoga program. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in pain and stiffness, with large effect sizes. The classes had no significant effect on sleeplessness. Twenty-two of the 23 participants also reported home practice of breathing and poses. The results of this pilot study provide promising evidence that group Yoga classes can reduce pain and stiffness among seniors with arthritis. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of this type of intervention: a group format delivered to seniors where they already live or seek resources and that accommodates a diverse range of abilities and health conditions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 November 2010
Research Article|
October 20 2010
Yoga for Seniors with Arthritis: A Pilot Study
Int J Yoga Therap (2010) 20 (1): 55–60.
Citation
Elizabeth de Hansen; Yoga for Seniors with Arthritis: A Pilot Study. Int J Yoga Therap 1 November 2010; 20 (1): 55–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.17761/ijyt.20.1.dk8k6nh87w34k754
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your Institution
117
Views
0
Citations
Citing articles via
Yoga and Cutaneous Functional Unit Recruitment for a Patient with Cervical and Upper Extremity Burn Scar Contracture: Case Report
Brooke Dean, SPT, Joseph Puthumana, MD, Scott Vocke, PT, DPT, Laurie Neely, PT, DPT, Ashley Modica, MD, Julie Caffrey, DO
Long-Term Yoga and Aerobic/Strength Exercise Adherence in Older Women with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Mixed Methods Approach
Corjena Cheung, PhD, Jean F. Wyman, PhD, Cynthia Peden-McAlpine, PhD
Therapeutic Yoga for the Management of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Current Evidence and Mechanisms
Abhinav Mohan, MD, Steven Tijmes, DO, Ashwin Mehta, MD, Jackson G. Cohen, MD
Assessing the Acceptability of Yoga Among Patients with and without Chronic Pain Enrolled in a Licensed Opioid Treatment Program
Elnaz Ahmadi, Charlotte Evans, Gabrielle Agin-Liebes, PhD, David Andrew Tompkins, MD, MHS
Longitudinal Factorial Invariance of a Brief Measure of Affect and Calm Focus
Hanjoe Kim, PhD, Kimberly D. Smoots, MEd, Patrick Sajovec, MEd, Syed Rizvi, Gulden Esat, MEd, Bradley H. Smith, PhD