title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-arm randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One HUD senior housing facility and one day senior center in south Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants attended either chair yoga or HEP. Both interventions consisted of twice-weekly 45-minute sessions for 8 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02113410.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
authors.forename: Juyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.affiliation: Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liehr
authors.affiliation: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ouslander
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D015013:Yoga
keywords: chair yoga; osteoarthritis; pain management; randomized controlled trial