A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Chair Yoga on Pain and Physical Function Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults With Lower Extremity Osteoarthritis. Issue 3 (23rd December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Juyoung; McCaffrey, Ruth; Newman, David; Liehr, Patricia; Ouslander, Joseph G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 65:Issue 3(2017:Mar.)
• Page Start: 592
• Page End: 597
• Publication Date: 2016-12-23
• Subjects: chair yoga -- osteoarthritis -- pain management -- randomized controlled trial; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14717
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To determine effects of Sit 'N' Fit Chair Yoga, compared to a Health Education program (HEP), on pain and physical function in older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis (OA) who could not participate in standing exercise. Design: Two‐arm randomized controlled trial. Setting: One HUD senior housing facility and one day senior center in south Florida. Participants: Community‐dwelling older adults (N = 131) were randomly assigned to chair yoga (n = 66) or HEP (n = 65). Thirteen dropped after assignment but prior to the intervention; six dropped during the intervention; 106 of 112 completed at least 12 of 16 sessions (95% retention rate). Interventions: Participants attended either chair yoga or HEP. Both interventions consisted of twice‐weekly 45‐minute sessions for 8 weeks. Measurements: Primary: pain, pain interference; secondary: balance, gait speed, fatigue, functional ability measured at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention, at the end of the 8‐week intervention, and post‐intervention (1 and 3 months). Results: The chair yoga group showed greater reduction in pain interference during the intervention ( P = .01), sustained through 3 months ( P = .022). WOMAC pain ( P = .048), gait speed ( P = .024), and fatigue ( P = .037) were improved in the yoga group during the intervention ( P = .048) but improvements were not sustained post intervention. Chair yoga had no effect on balance. Conclusion: An 8‐week chair yoga program was associated with reduction in pain, pain interference, and fatigue, and improvement in gait speed, but only the effects on pain interference were sustained 3 months post intervention. Chair yoga should be further explored as a nonpharmacologic intervention for older people with OA in the lower extremities. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02113410.