Effect of Vinyasa Yoga on Frailty and Anthropometric Measurements in Elderly Individuals

NCT ID: NCT06189430

Last Updated: 2024-01-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-03-08
• Study Completion Date: 2023-06-01

Brief Summary

During the aging process, concrete changes such as loss of function in organs and systems resulting from biological, physiological and psychological negativities and difficulty in participating in daily life activities occur. Frailty, one of the geriatric syndromes, is a complex condition that increases vulnerability to stressors and causes a decrease in the physiological reserve necessary to maintain homeostasis in most organs. When examined pathophysiologically, it is thought that frailty is not only evaluated as physical, but psychological and social fragility may also contribute to this situation.

It is thought that physical activity that includes strength training to maintain or improve muscle mass throughout aging may reduce muscle loss, an important risk factor for frailty. To treat physical frailty, supervised exercise is recommended as an effective strategy. Yoga; It is a holistic practice that encourages healing through breathing, movement, strength, flexibility and achieving integrity of spirit, body and mind. Being a meditative practice distinguishes yoga from other typical forms of physical exercise, despite having similar metabolic intensity. Regular yoga has the potential to improve flexibility, balance and muscle strength in older individuals. It is also known that yoga improves cognitive function in the elderly, helps manage chronic conditions, reduces pain due to osteoarthritis, improves sleep, increases subjective well-being and health-related quality of life.

During the healthy aging process, people may need to be guided according to their individual and health characteristics. By supporting this situation with appropriate nursing care, losses can be reduced and optimum health can be maintained. One of the biggest advantages of yoga applied within the scope of nursing care is that the individual's progress is ensured in a controlled manner by preparing a flow in line with appropriate asana selections, taking into account the individual's health condition. Nursing, by its nature, requires a holistic approach to people. Similarly, the practice of yoga is considered a practice that integrates not only physical health but also the mind, body and soul.

This study was planned as a randomized controlled, double-blind and experimental study to evaluate the effect of vinyasa yoga on frailty and anthropometric measurements in elderly individuals.

Detailed Description

Epidemiological studies and evidence-based practices conducted with the increasing elderly population in the world suggest that active and healthy aging can be achieved by preventing age-related inadequacies and limitations due to changes in negative factors that occur with aging. Active aging is the process of enabling the individual to perform all his/her functions independently and maintaining and protecting his/her health in a physically, psychologically and socially safe environment. In addition, during this period, the person has the opportunity to improve himself while increasing his subjective well-being levels and related quality of life by focusing on his strengths rather than the losses he experiences due to old age.

To date, exercise remains the interventional modality that most consistently provides benefit in the treatment of frailty and its core components. Exercise has physiological effects on almost all organ systems, especially the musculoskeletal, endocrine and immune systems. It is known that supervised exercise programs in healthy and pre-frail elderly individuals have positive effects on their participation in daily life activities while reducing physical fragility. Among frail older adults, exercise and maintaining self-autonomy are particularly important to reduce fall risk and reduce hospitalizations. It is thought that physical activity that includes strength training to maintain or improve muscle mass throughout aging may reduce muscle loss, an important risk factor for frailty. Supervised exercise is recommended as an effective strategy to treat physical frailty. If physical health is not protected, the quality of life of elderly individuals may decrease along with fragility. It has been observed that people who regularly participate in physical activity in older ages have higher levels of life satisfaction and subjective well-being than those who participate irregularly or intermittently. Yoga is a holistic practice that promotes healing through breathing, movement, strength, flexibility and achieving integrity of spirit, body and mind. Being a meditative practice distinguishes yoga from other typical forms of physical exercise, despite having similar metabolic intensity. Since Yoga aims to create the highest possible state of physical, mental and spiritual health, called Samadhi, many therapeutic processes that balance health occur in the process of achieving this goal. Yoga performed regularly has the potential to improve flexibility, balance and muscle strength in older individuals. It is also known that yoga improves cognitive function in the elderly, helps manage chronic conditions, reduces pain due to osteoarthritis, improves sleep, increases subjective well-being and health-related quality of life. It has been observed that yoga-based practices in the elderly also help maintain breathing and pulse rate, reduce high blood pressure and cortisol levels, and this helps repair stress-related autonomic regulatory reflex mechanisms.

Vinyasa yoga, which is formed by combining breathing flows and exercises with a dance-like flow, is defined in Sanskrit as the art of asanas (postures) related to dynamic meditation of the mind with conscious breathing and body synchronization. It also affects many parameters, affecting a person's health and well-being. The harmony between respiratory mechanics and the musculoskeletal system holistically optimizes body functioning, maintaining serenity and stability as emotional and spiritual calmness of the mind is allowed. In order to maintain the internal balance of the body, in vinyasa yoga, asanas are created as a series of flows in which the breath, described as energy transition called pranayama, is circulated throughout the body. During Vinyasa yoga, breathing continues in its natural flow, but completing the breath at the beginning and end of each asana actually ensures the soft connection between each movement. Depending on the difficulty or depth of physical activity, breathing may deepen or become difficult, but the important and ideal thing is to breathe in a regular rhythm through the nose. This situation, combined with the rhythm of mental and intellectual flows, breathing and asanas, emphasizes the vinyasa aspect of yoga. It is thought that the physical, mental and social effects of fragility can be recycled with a modifiable vinyasa yoga flow for elderly individuals. Despite the increasing prevalence of frailty and its high impact on the elderly, the effects of this condition can be reversed and mitigated with interventions. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity physical activity for the health benefits of older adults. ACSM recommends moderate to vigorous exercise for cardiovascular health and fitness for healthy adults. In addition, WHO recommends multi-component physical activities that support functional balance and strength exercises at medium or higher intensity, 3 or more days a week, within the weekly physical activities of individuals aged 65 and over, in order to prevent falls and increase functional capacity. Vinyasa yoga has been reported as an alternative moderate-intensity physical activity (50-70% MHR:maximum pulse rate) that meets ACSM criteria and may positively impact cardiovascular health. The metabolic cost of Hatha yoga has been stated to be 2.5 ± 0.8 MET (Metabolic equivalent), corresponding to 49.5 ± 12.2% MHR associated with low-intensity aerobic activity. However, the sequence of sun salutation postures within the typical flow chart of vinyasa yoga has been thought to produce a slightly higher intensity of 2.9 ± 0.77 MET and 54.8 ± 11.8% MHR and may correspond to this when practiced for more than ten minutes . It was also observed that the Hatha yoga practice without Surya Namaskar/sun salutation resulted in approximately 2.07 ± 0.4 MET and 55.98 ± 9.19% MHR, and the sun salutation part corresponded to 3.74 ± 0.70 MET and 66.99 ± 9.99% MHR.

During the healthy aging process, people may need to be guided according to their individual and health characteristics. By supporting this situation with appropriate nursing care, losses can be reduced and optimum health can be maintained. One of the biggest advantages of yoga applied within the scope of nursing care is that the individual's progress is ensured in a controlled manner by preparing a flow in line with appropriate asana selections, taking into account the individual's health condition. Nursing, by its nature, requires a holistic approach to people. Similarly, yoga practice is accepted as a practice that integrates not only physical health but also mind, body and soul.

It is thought that by incorporating the Vinyasa type of yoga, one of the integrative method uses that has just started to participate in the active aging process, into nursing care, it will reduce the exposure of older individuals to risk factors and the positive effects will increase their level of well-being by preventing both multisystemic and multifactorial syndromes. Studies have shown that Vinyasa yoga has a significant effect on transforming negative mood states into positive ones. Physical activity has also been shown to provide mood, emotion and stress reduction benefits.

No studies specifically on vinyasa yoga have been found in the field of nursing. However, when similar holistic practices were examined, Tai-Chi studies were found in the literature for individuals over the age of 60. Yoga, Tai Chi and meditation practices require focus and have been associated with positive changes in brain structure and function, especially in areas related to awareness, attention, executive functions and memory. There are meta-analysis studies showing that Tai-Chi practices have a positive effect on blood pressure by increasing exercise capacity in heart failure patients over the age of 60, and also increase the quality of life by reducing depression.

Since the proposed study has not been found to investigate the effects of vinyasa yoga, which has flows that exercise the musculoskeletal system and also has psychosocial effects, on elderly individuals, it is thought that the data obtained from the research results will contribute to the literature in nursing care by contributing to the active aging process.

Conditions

Geriatrics; Yoga; Complementary Therapies; Nursing Caries

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Yoga Group

Individuals in the yoga group of the study had 10 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes of warm-up, and 40 minutes of vinyasa yoga practice, 2 days a week face-to-face and 1 day online, for a total of 12 weeks.Yoga practice was standardized throughout the study to avoid the risk of intervention variability. The basic structure of each yoga session is meditation, breathing exercises (pranayama), and after a warm-up, yoga practice includes asanas (postures) for strength, balance and mobility, and finally ends with relaxation.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Yoga

Intervention Type: OTHER

Yoga practice was standardized throughout the study to avoid the risk of intervention variability. The basic structure of each yoga session is meditation, breathing exercises (pranayama), and after a warm-up, yoga practice includes asanas (postures) for strength, balance and mobility, and finally ends with relaxation. The yoga intervention we recommend was created within the framework of the asanas that the elderly can do in the literature and by taking the expert opinion of a sports physician.

Control Group

In order to better understand the effectiveness of Vinyasa yoga, individuals in the control group will perform moderate-intensity standard exercise (50-70% MHR: maximum pulse rate) for the same duration and at the same hours.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

It is a type of exercise similar in intensity to vinyasa yoga. (50-70% MHR: maximum pulse rate)

Interventions

Yoga

Yoga practice was standardized throughout the study to avoid the risk of intervention variability. The basic structure of each yoga session is meditation, breathing exercises (pranayama), and after a warm-up, yoga practice includes asanas (postures) for strength, balance and mobility, and finally ends with relaxation. The yoga intervention we recommend was created within the framework of the asanas that the elderly can do in the literature and by taking the expert opinion of a sports physician.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard exercise

It is a type of exercise similar in intensity to vinyasa yoga. (50-70% MHR: maximum pulse rate)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Vinyasa Yoga

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• A student at Ege 3rd Age University
• Those who are between the ages of 65-85,
• Agreeing to participate in the research,
• Open to communication,
• Those with a score of 25 or above according to the mini mental test

Exclusion Criteria

• Those who are older than 85 and younger than 65,
• Have been meditating regularly in the last year,
• Having attended a 200-hour yoga training program and previously received a certificate,
• Having a chronic disease that will prevent/limit yoga, such as COPD, Asthma, Coronary
• Artery Disease, Heart Failure, and create exercise restrictions.
• Having had a Mini Mental Test within 15 days
• Known history of neoplasia and/or being in the treatment process,
• Having advanced rheumatic or muscular disease

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ege University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Meltem Adaici

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Meltem Adaiçi, PhD Student

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ege University

Nazmiye Çıray, Asst. Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Ege University

Fisun Şenzun Aykar, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Izmir Tinaztepe University

Locations

Ege University

Izmir, Bornova, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 26111165 (View on PubMed)

DiBenedetto M, Innes KE, Taylor AG, Rodeheaver PF, Boxer JA, Wright HJ, Kerrigan DC. Effect of a gentle Iyengar yoga program on gait in the elderly: an exploratory study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1830-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.011.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 16181950 (View on PubMed)

Ni M, Mooney K, Richards L, Balachandran A, Sun M, Harriell K, Potiaumpai M, Signorile JF. Comparative impacts of Tai Chi, balance training, and a specially-designed yoga program on balance in older fallers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Sep;95(9):1620-1628.e30. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.04.022. Epub 2014 May 14.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 24835753 (View on PubMed)

Pina AA, Shadiow J, Tobi Fadeyi A, Chavez A, Hunter SD. The acute effects of vinyasa flow yoga on vascular function, lipid and glucose concentrations, and mood. Complement Ther Med. 2021 Jan;56:102585. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102585. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 33197660 (View on PubMed)

Miller SM, Hui-Lio C, Taylor-Piliae RE. Health Benefits of Tai Chi Exercise: A Guide for Nurses. Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Dec;55(4):581-600. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2020.07.002. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 33131634 (View on PubMed)

Shin S. Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Yoga Practice on Physical Fitness in the Elderly. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 6;18(21):11663. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111663.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 34770176 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

879

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id