Yoga May Be the Best Activity for the Elderly

by Carol Krucoff, E-RYT 500

Inviting elderly people to try yoga can be challenging, since many harbor the common misconception that you must be young and fit—or at least able to get down and up from the floor—to practice. That’s why I always tell prospective students: If you can breathe, you can do yoga.

Now, a new study suggests that for older adults—even frail elders in their 80s and 90s—yoga offers substantial health benefits and may be the best form of physical activity.  Writing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, geriatrician Neela K. Patel, MD, MPH, CMD, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, performed a meta-analysis of 18 randomized control trials of yoga for people over age 60 and compared the results with those from other exercise programs for seniors (see here). Her conclusion: 

“Yoga may be superior to conventional physical-activity interventions in elderly people.”

I recently had a lovely interview with Dr. Patel; it was very exciting to see research that supports what we teach! According to Dr. Patel, many health problems facing seniors can be directly influenced by yoga:

“Yoga not only improves health-related quality of life, but also enhances walking and balance, muscle strength, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, sleep and functioning of other systems. Yoga may also have psychosocial benefits through prevention and control of common health and emotional problems linked with aging.”

All four aspects of exercise, as outlined by the National Institute on Aging—strength, endurance, flexibility and balance—can be improved through an appropriate yoga practice, Dr. Patel told me, adding that the ability to individualize the practice and its social nature may also benefit seniors. But the most important aspect, she says, may be yoga’s impact on enhancing seniors’ ability to perform activities of daily living and maintain independence.

“Having the leg strength to get up and down from the bed to go to the toilet, and the arm strength to open a door, can make a tremendous difference in an older adult’s life,” she says. “And yoga goes beyond physical health, to help relieve anxiety and calm the mind, which is also critical.”

Dr. Patel has observed the impact of yoga practice on older adults first hand, as her husband, Sreedhara Akkihebbalu, teaches classes to elderly residents of an independent living community and a nursing home—ages 75 to 102. Perceived benefits among those students in independent living include improved gait and balance, deceased pain, decreased need for medications, improved sleep, less anxiety and depression and increased mobility. She notes:

“For the oldest old, the breathing practice can be particularly beneficial. Yoga shows great potential for improving quality of life in even the frailest of older adults."

Carol Krucoff, E-RYT 500, is co-director of the Therapeutic Yoga for Seniors teacher training offered at Duke Integrative Medicine and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and co-creator of the new DVD, “Relax into Yoga for Seniors,” available at pranamaya.com.  She is author of several books including Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain.  Visit her websites:  yoga4seniors.com and healingmoves.com.

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The Best Tips To Get Items Like Elderly Walkers

By Lila Barry

Purchasing things including elderly walkers is one significant step for a person to become able to move once more. Whether one is recovering from injuries or just has mobility concerns, the said items help in the restoration of the independence of one person. If someone gets the said item, he should seek a device that is sturdy in nature that has the appropriate width along with height.

It should also have a wheel size that is good. Another significant factor in deciding is the quality, as not all items of this kind are made equal. Height happens to be among the most significant features which one must seek in the purchase of such items.

Handles have to reach the height of the wrist one user has if the arms he has are at his sides. Someone that constantly couches if he uses the said device type has that which is very short. One shopper also should examine the width when it comes to having various models compared. The wide ones happen to be more stable not like narrow ones.

They, however, may prove more difficult to maneuver. One requiring a strong sort of support system should find wider ones, since they usually are more balanced. When it comes to getting this item type, one should also have knowledge of the brake system a model happens to have.

You must know that a lot of brakes on those four-wheeled kinds need users to squeeze a hand trigger. It may be difficult for someone who has problems in strength or possibly arthritis. One should always examine the system of brakes before buying one, since some brakes could prove stiff and difficult to activate. One should also consider wheel size. The models that have big as well as thick wheels may prove difficult to push.

But these could manage rough roads easier compared to the ones having small wheels. It is because wheels that are narrow as well as small may get stuck in any cracks on roads. If a user is indoors much of the time, models having smaller wheels might prove more appropriate.

Things like this must also fold so transportation is easy. Such also needs to be light. If it happens to have a seat, then be certain that this is soft and even comfortable for him. One user actually must be able to really sit comfortably on that while the feet he has touches the ground. Otherwise, such an item is way too high. Also, such can be dangerous for those who are small.

One also must compare a lot of different models in getting such item types. Quality which a costly model has could be comparable to those which are cheaper. Testing various types is key in the purchase of such an item. One might suit a small person only.

Given are the steps which you should follow in obtaining items like the elderly walkers. Be sure to follow the said steps to find one just right for your special someone to use. Along with following the said steps, be certain of having one created by manufacturers who are reputed.

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