這是美國維吉尼亞大學身體醫學復健系的研究

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目   標︰ 為了確定一訂做的瑜珈計畫是否能改進在年齡相關的胯關節伸展，步伐長度內的變化，和聯繫步伐功能在健康的長輩內的指標如果， 用於在老年醫學的人口方面的下降，從屬性和死亡率與增加的危險有關係的變化。

設   計︰ 單群預崗位的試驗探索的研究。 一3 維定量步伐評估，包括動態和動力尺寸，執行預和postintervention。 在主要和次要結果變量裡的超時變化(對postintervention的基線)被評價重複的使用測量變化的分析。

環    境︰ 瑜珈練習在和在學科的家鄉(瑜珈房屋慣例任務)內的一個學術醫療中心(組種類)內執行。 預和postassessments 執行在內一步伐實驗室。

參加者︰ 未曾學過瑜珈的23個健康的成年人被招募(年齡範圍，62-83 y)； 19個參加者完成計畫。

干    涉︰ 給老人明確訂做並且用於提升低身體的強度和靈活性的一個8 周的Iyengar Hatha瑜珈計畫。 參加者參加每周兩種90 分鐘瑜珈種類，並且被要求隔天完成至少20 分鐘被指導的練習。

主要結果測量︰ 山峰胯關節的伸展，平均前面的骨盆的傾斜和在舒適的走的速度的步伐長度。
結果︰ 胯關節的山峰伸展和步伐長度相當增加(F1，18 P，= 15.44<。 001 ; F1，18 = 5.57，P =。 分別，03)。 我們也對於降低的平均骨盆的傾斜觀察一個趨勢(F1，18 = 4.10，P =。 06); 調整以求修改的家瑜珈實踐的頻率的影響加強這協會的意義(調整F1，17 = 14.30，P =。 001). 那些頻率和持續時間的瑜珈家實踐顯示一堅固，線，劑量回應與胯關節伸展和平均骨盆傾斜變化的關係。

結論︰ 這項探索的研究的結論表明瑜珈練習可以改進胯關節的伸展， 增加步伐長度， 並且在健康的長輩裡減少前方骨盆的傾斜， 並且適合老成年人的瑜珈計畫可能提供防止或者降低在步伐功能的這些指標方面的有關年齡的變化的節省成本的方法。

原文
DiBenedetto M, Innes KE, Taylor AG, Rodeheaver PF, Boxer JA, Wright HJ, Kerrigan DC.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Sep;86(9):1830-7.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a tailored yoga program could improve age-related changes in hip extension, stride length, and associated indices of gait function in healthy elders, changes that have been linked to increased risk for falls, dependency, and mortality in geriatric populations.

DESIGN: Single group pre-post test exploratory study. A 3-dimensional quantitative gait evaluation, including kinematic and kinetic measurements, was performed pre- and postintervention. Changes over time (baseline to postintervention) in primary and secondary outcome variables were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

SETTING: Yoga exercises were performed in an academic medical center (group classes) and in the subjects' homes (yoga home-practice assignments). Pre- and postassessments were performed in a gait laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three healthy adults (age range, 62-83 y) who were naive to yoga were recruited; 19 participants completed the program.

INTERVENTION: An 8-week Iyengar Hatha yoga program specifically tailored to elderly persons and designed to improve lower-body strength and flexibility. Participants attended two 90-minute yoga classes per week, and were asked to complete at least 20 minutes of directed home practice on alternate days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak hip extension, average anterior pelvic tilt, and stride length at comfortable walking speed. RESULTS: Peak hip extension and stride length significantly increased (F1,18=15.44, P<.001; F1,18=5.57, P=.03, respectively). We also observed a trend toward reduced average pelvic tilt (F1,18=4.10, P=.06); adjusting for the modifying influence of frequency of home yoga practice strengthened the significance of this association (adjusted F1,17=14.30, P=.001). Both the frequency and duration of yoga home practice showed a strong, linear, dose-response relationship to changes in hip extension and average pelvic tilt.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this exploratory study suggest that yoga practice may improve hip extension, increase stride length, and decrease anterior pelvic tilt in healthy elders, and that yoga programs tailored to elderly adults may offer a cost-effective means of preventing or reducing age-related changes in these indices of gait function.