Nick N, Petramfar P, Ghodsbin F, Keshavarzi S, Jahanbin I. PM R 2015; 8(2): 145-151.
Affiliation
Instructor, Community Health Department, Fatemeh (P.B.U.H) School of Nursing & Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: Jahanbii@sums.ac.ir.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of yoga on balance and fear of falling in the older adults.
DESIGN: Randomized Control Trial SETTING: Jahandidegan center in Shiraz, southern Iran. PARTICIPANTS: Forty participants (17 men and 23 women) aged between 60-74 years, with a Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) score of < 8 and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score of < 45. After completing the MFES questionnaire and BBS, the participants were divided into intervention and control groups. BBS and MFES questionnaire were completed immediately after the intervention. INTERVENTION: The intervention group participated in two practice sessions per week for 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: We measured fear of falling with Modified Falls Efficacy Scale and balance with Berg Balance Scale.
RESULTS: We found a significant difference in the change in both variables between the two groups (P<0.0001). Mean difference pre- post intervention of BBS for yoga and control groups were 10.19 and -1.16 respectively. Also, Mean difference pre- post intervention of MFES for yoga and control groups were 1.62 and -0.21 respectively.
CONCLUSION: Yoga could be used as a potential intervention to reduce fear of falling and improve balance in the older adults.