Yoga has long been associated with several health benefits, and new research suggests that it may even boost physical capabilities related to longevity. This indicates that Yoga may reduce frailty and improve endurance in older adults.
Researchers found that practicing Yoga increased walking speed, lower extremity strength, and endurance with “moderate certainty” after reviewing 33 randomized controlled trials conducted in 12 countries with more than 2,000 participants.
Expert’s Opinion
Julia Loewenthal, a Brigham and Ladies’ Clinic geriatrician associated with the exploration, said this was huge because numerous feebleness markers are “associated with clinically significant results like living freely and mortality.” She expressed the hope that older people will be “encouraged by this research and empowered to adopt a regimen that works for them” and that this will be the case.
According to Loewenthal, the “well-established connection” between Yoga and walking speed and survival piqued the interest of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She stated, “Slower walking may indicate that the vicious cycle of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, is developing.”
End Note
Additionally, Yoga did not appear to improve handgrip, a metric associated with frailty. There was less evidence that it improved balance, possibly because many of the studies utilized chair-based methods. The authors also point out that the practice is not necessarily better than other forms of exercise, like tai chi.
