title: Randomized controlled trial of yoga for chronic poststroke hemiparesis: motor function, mental health, and quality of life outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of yoga for motor function, mental health, and quality of life outcomes in persons with chronic poststroke hemiparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two individuals participated in a randomized controlled trial involving assessment of task-orientated function, balance, mobility, depression, anxiety, and quality of life domains before and after either a 10-week yoga intervention (n = 11) or no treatment (n = 11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The yoga intervention did not result in any significant improvements in objective motor function measures, however there was a significant improvement in quality of life associated with perceived motor function (P = .0001) and improvements in perceived recovery approached significance (P = .072). Memory-related quality of life scores significantly improved after yoga intervention (P = .022), and those participating in the intervention exhibited clinically relevant decreases in state and trait anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results offer promise for yoga as an intervention to address mental health and quality of life in persons with stroke-related activity limitations. There is a need to more rigorously evaluate these yoga benefits with a larger randomized controlled trial, which, based on this preliminary trial, is feasible.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Maarten A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Immink
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petkov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
keywords: disability; meditation; mental health; rehabilitation; stroke; yoga