New research has found that one type of exercise can help protect against frailty in older adults.
Staying active is important for overall health, but it can become more of a challenge as one age and with that, it’s important to find exercise routines.
A new scientific analysis from researchers at Harvard University suggested that yoga is a great option for helping seniors regain their strength and improve mobility. The study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at 33 studies of 2,384 participants over the age of 65.
The researchers found that yoga—typically Hatha yoga that included Iyengar or chair-based methods—increased the walking speed and ability to rise from a chair. Both of these metrics are linked with less frailty and increased longevity.
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While yoga for seniors isn’t a new concept, this is the first time the effects of the practice have been measured against a slew of different metrics doctors use to define frailty in older patients.
The researchers found that yoga was the most closely linked with improved walking speed, along with improved leg strength to help with things like being able to rise from a chair or bed.
