Background: The number of older adults participating in yoga has increased dramatically in recent years; yet, the\r\nphysical demands associated with yoga performance have not been reported. The primary aim of the Yoga\r\nEmpowers Seniors Study (YESS) was to use biomechanical methods to quantify the physical demands associated\r\nwith the performance of 7 commonly-practiced standing yoga poses in older adults.\r\nMethods: 20 ambulatory older adults (70.7 + - 3.8 yrs) attended 2 weekly 60-minute Hatha yoga classes for\r\n32 weeks. The lower-extremity net joint moments of force (JMOFs), were obtained during the performance of the\r\nfollowing poses: Chair, Wall Plank, Tree, Warrior II, Side Stretch, Crescent, and One-Legged Balance.\r\nRepeated-measure ANOVA and Tukeyââ?¬â?¢s post-hoc tests were used to identify differences in JMOFs among the poses.\r\nElectromyographic analysis was used to support the JMOF findings.\r\nResults: There was a significant main effect for pose, at the ankle, knee and hip, in the frontal and sagittal planes\r\n(p = 0.00 ââ?¬â?? 0.03). The Crescent, Chair, Warrior II, and One-legged Balance poses generated the greatest average\r\nsupport moments. Side Stretch generated the greatest average hip extensor and knee flexor JMOFs. Crescent\r\nplaced the highest demands on the hip flexors and knee extensors. All of the poses produced ankle plantar-flexor\r\nJMOFs. In the frontal plane, the Tree generated the greatest average hip and knee abductor JMOFs; whereas\r\nWarrior II generated the greatest average hip and knee adductor JMOFs. Warrior II and One-legged Balance induced\r\nthe largest average ankle evertor and invertor JMOFs, respectively. The electromyographic findings were consistent\r\nwith the JMOF results.\r\nConclusions: Musculoskeletal demand varied significantly across the different poses. These findings may be used to\r\nguide the design of evidence-based yoga interventions that address individual-specific training and rehabilitation\r\ngoals in seniors.
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