@article{ref1,
title="Yoga's effect on falls in rural, older adults",
journal="Complementary therapies in medicine",
year="2017",
author="Hamrick, Irene and Mross, Paul and Christopher, Nate and Smith, Paul D.",
volume="35",
number="",
pages="57-63",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Unintentional falls affect 30% of people over age 65 years. Yoga has been shown to improve balance. We designed this study to examine if yoga reduces falls. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted 16 sessions of Hatha yoga over 8 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to practice 10min of yoga daily at home in addition to 5-min relaxation exercises or relaxation exercises only (control group). <br><br>RESULTS: Of the 38 participants completing the intervention, 15 participants reported a total of 27 falls in the 6-months before the study, compared to 13 participants sustaining 14 falls in the 6 months from the start of the study (p<0.047), without difference between yoga home-exercise and home relaxation-only groups. Compared to baseline scores, all participants improved on the Berg Balance Scale (53-54 out of 56, p=0.002), the Functional Gait Assessment (22.9-25.8 out of 30 points, p<0.001), and the Dynamic Gait Index (20.6-22.4 out of 24 points, p<0.001). Right leg stand time improved from a mean of 13.3s to 17.1s (p=0.020) and standing forward reach distance from 26.0cm to 29.6cm (p<0.001). Without difference between groups. Confidence, with the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, increased in the yoga home-exercise group (88%-93%, p=0.037) compared to 90% unchanged from pre-intervention in the home relaxation-only group. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Yoga classes reduce self-reported falls and improve balance measures. The addition of home yoga exercises did not enhance benefit over relaxation exercise only.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0965-2299",
doi="10.1016/j.ctim.2017.09.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.09.007"
}