The Research Question Asked
Does yoga practice support maintaining a healthy balanced gait during aging when compared to only walking?
Type of Study
Clinical control trial
Study Participants (Sample)
Sample size: 23 total participants
Age 68-78 years old
Participants (11 people) in yoga treatment group did yoga for at least 1 hour per week and had at least 1 year of yoga experience
Participants in the walking control group (12 people) walked at least 1 hour per week
Methods
Researchers measured three aspects of gait initiation in an older-aged group of yoga practitioners and a similarly-aged group of walkers. They also measured coactivation of ankle muscles, specifically tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius.
Results
Yoga practitioners and walkers were not significantly different in the first phase of gait initiation or in center of pressure excursion (postural sway) in the second phase of gait initiation. However, the center of pressure velocity (the change in speed and direction of our center of pressure) and leg muscle coactivation between tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius were significantly lower in yoga practitioners than in walkers.
Conclusion
Consistent yoga practice over time may help older people maintain a more efficient and easeful gait.