The Effect of Yoga on Balance and Fear of Falling in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of yoga on balance and fear of falling in older adults. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Jahandidegan Center in Shiraz, southern Iran. PARTICIPANTS Forty persons (17 men and 23 women) between the ages of 60-74 years with a Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) score <8 and a Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score <45. After completing the MFES questionnaire and BBS measurement, the participants were divided into intervention and control groups. BBS measurement and the MFES questionnaire were completed again immediately after the intervention. INTERVENTION The intervention group participated in 2 yoga practice sessions per week for 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Fear of falling was measured with the MFES and balance was measured with the BBS. RESULTS We found significant changes in both variables (P < .0001). Mean differences before and after the intervention for the BBS for yoga and control groups were 10.19 and -1.16, respectively. Mean differences before and after the intervention for the MFES for yoga and control groups were 1.62 and -0.21, respectively. CONCLUSION Yoga is a potential intervention to reduce fear of falling and improve balance in older adults.