Effects of yoga on physical and psychological health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Ka-Yan Ko, Zoe Ching Man Kwok, Helen Yue-Lai Chan
International Journal of Older People Nursing September 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/opn.12562 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Older adults aged 60 and above |
| Intervention | Yoga |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Old Physical Psychological Yoga |
| Citations | 37 |
| Key findings | Yoga significantly improved balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and depressive symptoms among older adults. |
Abstract
To synthesise and critically appraise the quality of existing evidence about the effects of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants aged 60 and above. Nine English and two Chinese electronic bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE OvidSP, PsycINFO, AMED, EMBASE, Global Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Hyread and WanFang databases, were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults were included. Meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes studied in three or more studies, otherwise narrative synthesis was performed. Fifteen studies were included for review. The results of meta-analysis after sensitivity analysis showed that yoga significantly improved balance (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.48-1.14, p < .001, II2 = 59%), flexibility (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.07-0.68, p = .020, II2 34%), muscle strength (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.18-0.79, p = .002, I2 43%) and depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.09-0.91, p = .01, I2 0%). There was insufficient data for meta-analysis on gait and other psychological outcomes. Narrative synthesis suggested that yoga has positive effects on reducing anxiety, but its effects on improving gait and reducing stress among older adults were inconclusive. The results of this review supported the beneficial effects of yoga on physical outcomes among older adults, but the heterogeneity across studies was relatively high. Evidence related to the effect on psychological outcomes was limited.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Comparative analysis of meditation techniques on well-being and consciousness states: A cross-sectional study Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice February 24, 2026
- A Systematic Review of Yoga Interventions on the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals and Students International Journal of Yoga May 5, 2025