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.