Mental Practice, Yoga and Kouk Sun Do Exercises on Functional Tests in Elderly with Mobility Limitation

Aging is a natural process concerning the physiological and psychological changes in humans over a period of time. Increasing prevalence of aging has recently been reported in Iran and it predicted to be increased tremendously by 2031. Aging affects the physiological systems associated with balance. The flexibility, strength and balance training program for the elderly can reduce the risk factors of falling with increasing muscle strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, reaction speed and deep sensation in walking, and enhance the performance of the elderly in daily life. Elderly people are not able to perform any kind of activity due to some physiological, physical and motor limitation. Meanwhile, Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga are activities that good for the elderly. However, the main question is whether the Yoga, Kouk Sun Do (KSD) and mental exercises that result from any extreme physical exertion stress for the elderly can play a significant role in general health by promoting balance, muscular and flexibility, which is one of the main factors in improving the performance of elderly people with mobility limitation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mental practice, yoga and KSD exercises on functional tests in elderly with mobility limitation.

A total of 80 elderly women (68.46 ± 2.92) with mobility limitation voluntarily participated in four groups (n=20 in each group). Experimental groups participated in the KSD, Mental and Yoga exercises for four months, two sessions a week. Stork test for static balance timed get up and go test for dynamic balance sit and reach test for flexibility, standing chair test for muscle strength of lower body and legs were performed before and after intervention. Inclusive criteria were women aged above 65 years, mobility limitation, no limitation of mobility due to amputation, score 7 and above in the abbreviated mental test (AMT) psychological health test, and lack of a regular exercise program in the past six months. Exclusive criteria were absence if subjects in training sessions. The survey of activities and fear of falling in the elderly (SAFE) were used to enter elderly with mobility limitation. In implementing the mental training protocol, participants first filled out the movement imagery questionnaire–revised (MIQ–R) to measure motion visual and visual imaging ability and the imaging scores were less than 1 omitted in the research. Levene test was used to determine the homogeneity of variances and two–way repeated–measures ANOVA was used to compare the groups at a significance level of 0.05.

Based on the results of two–way repeated–measures ANOVA, there was a significant difference between KSD, mental, yoga and control groups (p≤0.05). There was also a significant difference in functional tests (static balance, dynamic balance, flexibility and muscular strength) of the elderly before and after intervention (p≤0.05). The results of Bonferroni test showed a significant difference in KSD and yoga groups compared to the control group. 

Results of the study suggested that performing the yoga and KSD practice protocol improves the static balance, dynamic balance, physical flexibility and muscular strength of elderly women with mobility limitation. Elderly people can get profit from yoga and KSD training with no extra need to any special facilities.