Yoga Improves Bone Density and Metabolism in Elderly Osteoporosis

NCT ID: NCT07126002

Last Updated: 2025-08-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-12-31

Brief Summary

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a 16-week yoga program on BMD, bone metabolism markers, and physical fitness in elderly patients with OP.

Detailed Description

To assess the effects of a 16-week yoga intervention on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism, and physical fitness in elderly patients with osteoporosis. This randomized controlled trial enrolled 60 adults aged 50 years or older with clinically confirmed osteoporosis. Based on personal preference, participants were assigned to either a yoga group or a control group. The intervention consisted of supervised yoga sessions conducted twice weekly for 16 weeks. The yoga intervention included physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation/relaxation techniques. Health outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (8 weeks), and post-intervention (16 weeks). Primary outcomes included changes in BMD at the lumbar spine and hips. Secondary outcomes comprised serum levels of osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), β-CTX, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, phosphate, and performance in physical function tests, including grip strength, chair stand, single-leg balance, and timed up-and-go. This randomized controlled trial aims to find out the effect of yoga intervention on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism, and physical fitness in elderly patients with osteoporosis.

Conditions

Osteoporosis

Study Design

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

Study Groups

experimental group

Participants in the yoga intervention group attended supervised yoga classes twice per week for 16 weeks. Each yoga session lasted approximately 60 minutes and was conducted by certified yoga instructors. Sessions comprised breathing exercises, structured yoga postures, and relaxation. Heart rate was monitored regularly during sessions to maintain appropriate intensity.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Yoga

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

: Participants in this arm received a structured yoga course intervention for a period of 4 months. Sessions were held twice weekly, with each lasting 60 minutes. The curriculum was specifically designed to be gentle, slow-paced, and low-impact, making it suitable for older adults while emphasizing body awareness, mind-body integration, and psychological regulation. The course content included: breathing exercises (e.g., basic abdominal breathing combined with simple movements), asana (posture) practice (e.g., seated chair exercises, standing poses, prone poses, supine poses, and side-lying poses, emphasizing muscle activation, joint flexibility, bodybalance training, and coordination of breath with movement), and meditation and relaxation (e.g.supine rest, moon breath training, and OM chanting). All classes were instructed by experienced yoga teachers certified by the Yoga Alliance.

control group

Participants in the control group were instructed to maintain their usual activities and not initiate any new structured exercise programs during the study period

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Yoga

: Participants in this arm received a structured yoga course intervention for a period of 4 months. Sessions were held twice weekly, with each lasting 60 minutes. The curriculum was specifically designed to be gentle, slow-paced, and low-impact, making it suitable for older adults while emphasizing body awareness, mind-body integration, and psychological regulation. The course content included: breathing exercises (e.g., basic abdominal breathing combined with simple movements), asana (posture) practice (e.g., seated chair exercises, standing poses, prone poses, supine poses, and side-lying poses, emphasizing muscle activation, joint flexibility, bodybalance training, and coordination of breath with movement), and meditation and relaxation (e.g.supine rest, moon breath training, and OM chanting). All classes were instructed by experienced yoga teachers certified by the Yoga Alliance.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age ≥50 years;
• diagnosed with osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA);
• able to independently perform required assessments;
• voluntary participation in yoga intervention.

Exclusion Criteria

• secondary osteoporosis;
• severe cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, hepatic, or renal diseases;
• cognitive impairment;
• severe motor dysfunction;
• regular participation in structured exercise programs, such as yoga or resistance training, within the past six months.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Beijing Sport University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Beijing Sport University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Countries

China

Other Identifiers

2025152H

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id