Researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that yoga can help older adults regain leg strength and increase walking speed. Research published in the journal Internal Medicine Annuals.
The scientists reviewed 33 small clinical trials. They showed that older people who practiced yoga gained lower body strength and increased walking speed.
At the same time, yoga did not have advantages over other types of exercise, such as tai chi (previously this gymnastics has been proven to help the elderly reduce the risk of falls). But the review found that yoga may be a way to increase leg strength in the elderly. Decreased muscle strength puts older people at increased risk of disability, falls, and hospitalization. Academics stressed the importance of face-to-face training for newcomers under the supervision of a coach.
One limitation of the review was the heterogeneity of the studies. Some included people living at home, others included the elderly in nursing homes. The health status of the subjects was also different: some were OK, but some trials showed arthritis or Parkinson’s disease in the elderly. Also, studies have not compared different styles of yoga. This highlights the importance of further research.