La práctica del yoga y sus beneficios en las personas mayores

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the evidence available on the effects of yoga practice and its impact on the ageing process.Methodology: an integrative review, for which a review of literature was conducted on the following databases: PubMed, OTseeker, Cochrane Plus and ScienceDirect. There was also a manual search conducted in: FreeFullPdf and Google Scholar. Various limits were applied in order to specify the search: studies published between 2004 and 2014, published in Spanish and English, exploring the yoga experience in persons over 59-year-old without any associated condition, and quantitative population studies.Results: fifteen (15) studies (14 in English and one in Spanish) analyzed the efficacy of different types of yoga in elderly persons. There is evidence of beneficial effects on a physical level (an improvement in lower body mobility), cognitive level (mood improvement) and behavioural level (improvement in sleep quality and quality of life).Conclusions: yoga practice offers physical and mental benefits in older persons, which are adapted to the objectives of occupational therapy and other health disciplines. These improvements in physical, cognitive and behavioural aspects lead to a higher independence in the elderly.