A short-term yoga-based intervention improves balance control, body composition, and some aspects of mental health in the elderly men

Background: Body balance control represents a key function for the physical activities of elderly people aged sixty-five and over. Due to the biological and psychosocial changes in this age group, yoga-based intervention appears to be beneficial to maintaining their ability to balance along with related mental aspects of health. Objective: The aim of the presented study was to examine the effects of the 4-week yoga-based intervention on balance, body composition and the mental health aspects of elderly men. Methods: 67-80-year-old elderly men (N = 234, mean age 72.5 ± 7.7 years) were assessed with The Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool, bioimpedance body composition analyser InBody 230 and the Health Survey SF-36, applied for the pre- and post-testing. The experimental group (n = 122) underwent the 4-week intervention based on yoga exercises, while the control group (n = 112) had a usual daily program at their senior homes or centers. Results: The yoga intervention led to significant improvement of both the static balance and gait scores compared to the control group, with medium effect size, ηp2 = .070 and .080. The intervention also had an effect on the decrease of body fat percentage (by 1.7%) and an increase in muscle mass (by 1.3 kg), with a large effect size, ηp2 = .214 and .301. Results of the Health Survey showed that overall mental health did not change significantly although positive improvement in two items connected with emotional problems. Conclusions: A short-term yoga-based intervention may have a significant positive influence on physical abilities such as balance control and body composition rather than on mental health aspects in elderly men aged sixty-five and over.