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The Effect of Yoga on Balance and Mobility in Populations with Balance and Mobility Impairment: a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

  • Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (J Friedly, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to address the following question: what is the effect of yoga-based exercise on balance and mobility in populations who are at risk for balance and mobility impairment?

Recent Findings

Results from our meta-analysis suggested that yoga therapy likely has a beneficial effect on mobility (e.g., transfer ability) in older adults when compared with passive control conditions; however, the same effect was not seen when compared with active control conditions. Further meta-analyses showed that yoga therapy did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in balance outcomes in older adults or individuals who have had a stroke when compared with active or passive control conditions.

Summary

The results of this systematic review with meta-analysis suggest that yoga is a form of therapeutic exercise that can be beneficial for mobility outcomes in older adults when compared to more passive treatment options. The available evidence is inconclusive with regards to the benefit of yoga over alternative passive or active treatments for balance or mobility outcomes in other balance and mobility impaired populations. Further clinical trials are warranted with higher quality methodological design and sufficient statistical power.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jane Shofer for performing the meta-analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, RCS-117, 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA

    Natalie Cooper, Pradeep Suri & David C. Morgenroth

  2. Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Seattle, WA, USA

    Pradeep Suri & Alyson Litman

  3. Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Alyson Litman

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    David C. Morgenroth

  5. Center for Limb Loss and Mobility (CLiMB), Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Seattle, WA, USA

    David C. Morgenroth

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  1. Natalie Cooper
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Correspondence to David C. Morgenroth.

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Cooper, N., Suri, P., Litman, A. et al. The Effect of Yoga on Balance and Mobility in Populations with Balance and Mobility Impairment: a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 6, 1–14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-018-0168-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-018-0168-y

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