Effects of chair yoga therapy on physical fitness in patients with psychiatric disorders: A 12-week single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Author: Ikai S1, Uchida H2, Mizuno Y3, Tani H4, Nagaoka M5, Tsunoda K6, Mimura M7, Suzuki T8
Affiliation:
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan. Electronic address: sako0609@gmail.com.
2Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan; Geriatric Mental Health Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
3Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
4Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan.
5Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan; Research Center for Child Mental Development, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
6Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan.
7Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
8Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Minami-Hanno Hospital, 415 Yaoroshi, Hanno-shi, Saitama, 357-0042, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Inokashira Hospital, 4-14-1 Kamirenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-0012, Japan.
Conference/Journal: J Psychiatr Res.
Date published: 2017 Jul 19
Other: Volume ID: 94 , Pages: 194-201 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.07.015. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 261

INTRODUCTION: Since falls may lead to fractures and have serious, potentially fatal outcomes, prevention of falls is an urgent public health issue. We examined the effects of chair yoga therapy on physical fitness among psychiatric patients in order to reduce the risk of falls, which has not been previously reported in the literature.

METHODS: In this 12-week single-blind randomized controlled trial with a 6-week follow-up, inpatients with mixed psychiatric diagnoses were randomly assigned to either chair yoga therapy in addition to ongoing treatment, or treatment-as-usual. Chair yoga therapy was conducted as twice-weekly 20-min sessions over 12 weeks. Assessments included anteflexion in sitting, degree of muscle strength, and Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) as well as QOL, psychopathology and functioning.

RESULTS: Fifty-six inpatients participated in this study (36 men; mean ± SD age, 55.3 ± 13.7 years; schizophrenia 87.5%). In the chair yoga group, significant improvements were observed in flexibility, hand-grip, lower limb muscle endurance, and MFES at week 12 (mean ± SD: 55.1 ± 16.6 to 67.2 ± 14.0 cm, 23.6 ± 10.6 to 26.8 ± 9.7 kg, 4.9 ± 4.0 to 7.0 ± 3.9 kg, and 114.9 ± 29.2 to 134.1 ± 11.6, respectively). Additionally, these improvements were observable six weeks after the intervention was over. The QOL-VAS improved in the intervention group while no differences were noted in psychopathology and functioning between the groups. The intervention appeared to be highly tolerable without any notable adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated sustainable effects of 20-min, 12-week, 24-session chair yoga therapy on physical fitness. Chair yoga therapy may contribute to reduce the risk of falls and their unwanted consequences in psychiatric patients.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: Chair yoga therapy; Fear of fall; Flexibility; Muscle strength; Physical fitness

PMID: 28750232 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.07.015

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