Effectiveness of Chair Yoga for Improving the Functional Fitness and Well-being of Female Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Low Physical Activities

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of a 12-week chair yoga program on functional fitness and well-being in community-dwelling older women with low physical activities. Methods: A total of 31 community-dwelling older women with low physical activity participated in this quasi-experimental study. Two communities of the elderly were allocated to 2 groups through lot drawing. Subjects were randomly assigned to control or intervention groups by community to avoid contamination—the experimental group of 16 people and the control group of 15 people. The participants in the experimental group trained chair yoga exercise for 12 weeks with 2 sessions per week, 110 minutes per session, whereas the control group maintained its regular daily activities. Data collection from multiple variables was conducted using questionnaire (well-being) and examination on functional fitness (handgrip strength, lower limb muscle strength, upper limb muscle strength, static balance, agility and dynamic balance, lower limb flexibility, upper limb flexibility). Results: The results showed a significant improvement for the experimental group in the handgrip strength (P = .001), upper limb muscle strength (P = .047), lower limb muscle strength (P = .007), static balance (P = .016), agility and dynamic balance (P = .009), and in the well-being (P = .003) after the intervention. The control group reveals deteriorated result in upper limb muscle strength (P = .016). Among other functional fitness and well-being variables, there is no significant difference. Conclusion: The chair yoga training provides a simple and inexpensive exercise program that improves the functional fitness and well-being effectively.