Silver yoga exercises improved physical fitness of transitional frail elders.
BACKGROUND
Promoting the health of transitional frail elders (e.g., through therapeutic-based yoga exercises) is essential to reduce healthcare expenditures caused by chronic health problems.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of 24 weeks of the senior-tailored silver yoga (SY) exercise program for transitional frail elders.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 69 elders in assisted living facilities were assigned randomly to the SY group (n = 38) or to the control group (n = 31) on the basis of the facilities where they resided, and 55 of them completed this quasi-experimental pretest and posttest study. Intervention was conducted three times per week, 70 minutes per session, for 24 weeks. Physical fitness (body composition, cardiovascular-respiratory functions, body flexibility, muscle power and endurance, balance, and agility) were examined at baseline, at 12 weeks, and at the end of the 24th week of the study.


RESULTS
At the end of the study, the physical fitness indicators of participants in the SY group had improved significantly, and they had better physical fitness than participants in the control group (all p values < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
It was recommended that the SY exercises be incorporated as an activity program in assisted living facilities to promote the physical fitness of transitional frail elders.
Chen
Kuei-Min
KM
College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. kmc@kmu.edu.tw
Fan
Jue-Ting
JT
Wang
Hsiu-Hung
HH
Wu
Shu-Ju
SJ
Li
Chun-Huw
CH
Lin
Huey-Shyan
HS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D056152:Respiratory Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking; D015013:Yoga