This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of yoga as a neuromuscular intervention for individuals residing in the community who are at risk of falls, aiming to assess its applicability within occupational therapy practices.

The populations analyzed consist of older adults and individuals with conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The advantages of yoga encompass enhanced postural control, increased flexibility both physically and mentally, relaxation, and a reduction in anxiety and stress levels. A comprehensive review of existing literature was performed to explore the positive impacts of yoga on clients susceptible to falls due to neuromuscular challenges.

Moderate evidence indicates that yoga may effectively mitigate fall risks among community-dwelling older adults, as well as those with CVA, dementia and AD-type dementia, and MS. However, studies related to individuals with TBI and PD did not present sufficiently robust evidence to establish a definitive conclusion.

Reference

Green, E., Huynh, A., Broussard, L., Zunker, B., Matthews, J., Hilton, C., Aranha, K. (2019). Systematic review of yoga and balance: Effect on adults with neuromuscular impairment. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2019, Vol. 73(1), 7301205150p1–7301205150p11.