We undertook a randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness
of a chair-based yoga programme for older adults with multiple long-term health conditions.
The offer of a 12-week Gentle Years Yoga (GYY) programme was not associated with any
significant benefits in terms of quality of life, mental health, loneliness or falls.
Many older adults have multiple long-term health conditions, which can lead to poorer
health outcomes and affect quality of life, with some people experiencing little impact on
their lives and others needing significant healthcare support. Some conditions can be well
controlled with medicines or other treatments, but this is not always the case.
The GYY programme was developed to improve quality of life for older adults, including
those with long-term health conditions. The aims of GYY are to improve muscle strength,
flexibility, balance, mobility, and mental and social wellbeing. There is some evidence
supporting the beneficial effects of yoga in older adults and for several long-term
conditions. However, good quality evidence of the clinical and cost benefits is limited and
little research has specifically focused on older adults with multiple long-term conditions.
Our randomised controlled trial tested whether offering a 12-week course of GYY improved
quality of life, and reduced anxiety, depression, loneliness and falls for people aged 65 years
and over who had two or more long-term health conditions.
The course for those randomised to the GYY programme involved 12, 75-minute sessions of
chair-based yoga, usually delivered weekly, either face-to-face or online. Participants
completed four questionnaires over a 12-month period.
To find out how GYY worked in practice, we undertook one-to-one interviews with some of
the participants and all the yoga teachers. Some yoga sessions were independently
observed to ensure consistency of delivery.
We also carried out four studies within a trial (SWATs) investigating ways to improve trial
methods.
We successfully completed the largest randomised controlled trial of chair-based yoga for
older adults with multiple long-term conditions in the world. Although we found that the
offer of a 12-week
GYY programme was not associated with any significant benefits in terms of quality of life,
mental health, loneliness or falls, it was safe, acceptable to most participants, valued by
some, and may be good value for money.
The GYY Trial results event recording (1 Nov 2023)
Chair-based yoga for older adults with multiple long-term health conditions: a summary
report for participants
GYY Summary Briefing (PDF , 224kb)
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The research was funded by NIHR HTA programme (Award ID: 17/94/36) and a grant of £1,463,248.68 awarded. The project was started in 01/2019 and completed in 09/2022.
Study sponsor
University of Northumbria