Title : Effectiveness of yoga therapy in improving quality of life after hip fracture in older adults: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract:
Background: Hip fractures in the elderly significantly impair mobility, quality of life, and bone health. Conventional physiotherapy remains the cornerstone of post-surgical rehabilitation, yet adjunct therapies such as yoga may enhance outcomes. Yoga integrates gentle physical movement, breathing techniques, and relaxation, which may enhance recovery, emotional well-being, and social engagement in elderly patients. This study is to evaluate the effect of a structured yoga program on the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) scores among elderly patients recovering from hip fractures over a nine-month period.
Methodology: A randomized controlled study was conducted with 12 6 post-surgical hip fracture patients aged above 65 years. Participants were randomly assigned to Group A (intervention, n=63) or Group B (control, n=63). The intervention group received a structured yoga program during hospital stay, followed by biweekly sessions for nine months, in addition to standard care. The control group received standard care alone. After attrition, 48 participants remained in Group A and 45 in Group B. WHOQOL-BREF scores across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains were assessed at baseline and at nine months.
Results: After nine months, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in total quality of life, particularly in physical and psychological health domains (p < 0.001), compared to the control group.
Discussion: The findings suggest that integrating yoga into rehabilitation may enhance recovery outcomes by improving mobility, reducing stress, and supporting emotional regulation. The combined physical and mental components of yoga likely contributed to better adherence and holistic recovery.
Conclusion: Structured yoga programs can be an effective adjunct to conventional rehabilitation, improving quality of life and promoting healthy aging among elderly hip fracture patients.
Keywords: Hip fracture, Yoga, Rehabilitation, WHOQOL, RCT.
