BALANCE AND FALL RISK ASSESSMENT IN ADULT HABITUAL YOGA PRACTITIONERS

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2016-05
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Background: Postural control in a functioning human is highly complex and dynamic. The main functional goals, postural orientation and postural equilibrium, decline as a person ages. As a result, unintentional falls occur frequently in ostensibly normal older adults and the falls are one of the leading causes of fatal and nonfatal injuries in individuals over the age of 55 years. A hypothesized fall prevention mechanism that has become more available and popular in the United States is the practice of yoga. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not the habitual practice of yoga alters balance measures and associated fall risks. If so, then the practice of yoga is justified as a preventative measure for unintentional falls in adults. Methods: Forty, apparently healthy individuals between the ages of 55-70 years of age were recruited to complete the study. Twenty-one of the subjects were recruited based on their participation in yoga for at least eight weeks for a minimum of three times per week. The remaining nineteen subjects were recruited based on their lack of enrollment in yoga classes, and placed in the control group. Each subject completed a survey of health history (including fall history and the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale-International) and yoga participation characteristics to determine subject eligibility. Upon arrival to the testing site, subject’s height and weight was measured. Next, subjects were asked daily activity pattern questions based on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire to determine an estimated daily metabolic equivalent above basal metabolic rate. Balance measures were then taken through use of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest). Once all testing was complete, subjects received a review of their performance measures. Data was analyzed using a 2-tailed t-test with a priori alpha set at p < 0.05 for each dependent variable. A univariate analysis of variance was performed to determine any effect of yoga participation duration, types of yoga practiced, and age on balance performance and the FES-I total score. Results: The BESTest total score of the yoga practitioners (94.66% ± 3.54) was significantly higher than that of the control group (89.43% ± 4.06, P < 0.001). Specifically, the sections of the BESTest that the yoga practitioners had significantly higher scores than the control group were biomechanical constraints (14 ± 0.89, 13 ± 0.88), transitions/anticipatory postural control (17.24 ± 1.22, 16.11 ± 1.20), sensory orientation (14.81 ± 0.40, 13.89 ± 1.10), and stability in gate (19.71 ± 0.90, 18.32 ± 1.42). This difference persisted though the group activity levels, as measured by the GPAQ, were not statistically different between groups (P > 0.05). The FES-I total score and the number of claimed falls in the past twelve months were not significantly different between groups, mainly due to the younger age of the subjects (61.12±4.15 years and 59.60±2.99 years for the yoga group and the control group, respectively) in comparison to high fall-risk seniors (>70 years old.) No significant relationship was determined between the duration of habitual of yoga, types of yoga practiced, and age on balance performance and the FES-I total score Conclusion: This study shows that there is a significantly improved balance score for individuals, between 55 and 70 years old, who habitually practice yoga, as determined by the Balance Evaluation Systems Test.
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