Yoga to Reduce Leisure Constraints for Residents of Assisted Living Facilities

Abstract

Residents of assisted living facilities face leisure constraints (barriers to leisure activities) at higher rates than their community-dwelling peers. Past research suggests yoga may be an effective intervention to decrease leisure constraints to physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an eight-week yoga intervention on the leisure constraints of residents of assisted living facilities. The study employed a convergent mixed methods design to assess the impact of a 50-minute group yoga intervention, offered twice a week for eight weeks by a Certified Yoga Therapist. The intervention was implemented at four different assisted living facilities in the Southeastern United States. Pre- and post-quantitative measures were collected to assess overall leisure constraints, limitations in functional fitness, and pain interference. Qualitative data were collected via focus groups post-yoga intervention to determine participants’ perspectives on changes in leisure constraints. A total of 15 participants completed the study. Data analysis revealed significant improvements in two of the four functional fitness measures: upper body endurance (measured by the Arm Curl Test), and trunk stability (measured by the Function in Sitting Test). No significant improvements were observed in pain interference, or overall leisure constraints. Qualitative results indicated participants used yoga to help engage in daily activities such as housework, sleeping, and walking. Additionally, participants reported using yoga to help manage pain. In this sample, yoga appears to be a promising intervention to help reduce specific leisure constraints such as a reduction in functional fitness. Additionally, yoga shows some promise as a pain management strategy, warranting further research.