Study to show chair yoga as effective treatment for osteoarthritis

Doing yoga while sitting, known as chair yoga, can ease the pain of osteoarthritis in the lower part of the body, such as the hip, knee, ankle or foot.

It’s an effective alternative for people who cannot perform the usual yoga positions, say researchers at Florida Atlantic University who tested the effects of chair yoga on a group of 131 people with osteoarthritis. Those who participated in the eight-week class[highlight] reported greater flexibility, less pain and improved quality of life overall[/highlight] than those who instead took part in a health education programme.

Chair yoga was developed by Kristine Lee for people with mobility and flexibility problems. People can perform the positions while seated or while standing and holding a chair for support.

Source: Journal of American Geriatric Society, 2016; doi: 10.1111/jgs.14717