A Multidimensional Health Perspective: Analysis of the Effects of Yoga Intervention on Sleep Disorders in Older Adults

Beijing Sport University73 enrolled

Overview

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of a structured yoga intervention on multidimensional health outcomes in older adults with sleep disturbances. A total of 62 participants aged 60 years and older with varying degrees of sleep disorders were recruited and randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received a standardized yoga program for 4 months, conducted twice weekly (60 minutes per session), and guided by certified instructors. The yoga intervention included physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation/relaxation techniques. Health outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (8 weeks), and post-intervention (16 weeks), across five domains: sleep quality, daytime functioning, cognitive performance, physical fitness, and emotional well-being. This study aims to explore the feasibility, safety, and integrative effects of yoga as a non-pharmacological intervention for promoting health in the aging population.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sleep Disorders Insomnia Aging

Interventions

Structured Yoga Course InterventionBEHAVIORAL

Participants in this arm received a structured yoga course intervention for a period of 4 months. Sessions were held twice weekly, with each lasting 60 minutes. The curriculum was specifically designed to be gentle, slow-paced, and low-impact, making it suitable for older adults while emphasizing body awareness, mind-body integration, and psychological regulation. The course content included: breathing exercises (e.g., basic abdominal breathing combined with simple movements), asana (posture) practice (e.g., seated chair exercises, standing poses, prone poses, supine poses, and side-lying poses, emphasizing muscle activation, joint flexibility, body balance training, and coordination of breath with movement), and meditation and relaxation (e.g., supine rest, moon breath training, and OM chanting). All classes were instructed by experienced yoga teachers certified by the Yoga Alliance.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria : 1. ≥ 60 years, conforming to the World Health Organization's definition of the elderly population. 2. Presence of varying degrees of sleep disorder symptoms (e.g., difficulty falling asleep, sleep maintenance difficulties, early morning awakening), but without severe mental illness or other significant underlying diseases affecting sleep (e.g., dementia, severe depression). 3. Possessing basic comprehension abilities, voluntarily participating in the study, and signing informed consent. 4. Capable of cooperating with follow-up and intervention. 5. No severe physical dysfunction, cardiopulmonary disease, or other conditions limiting participation in light physical activities (such as yoga practice). Exclusion Criteria : 1. Severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. 2. Severe cognitive impairment, making it impossible to cooperate with the intervention and subjective questionnaire assessments. 3. Unstable cardiovascular diseases or other major organic diseases (e.g., recent myocardial infarction, end-stage renal failure). 4. Severe visual or auditory impairments that affect the safety and adherence to practice.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is an internationally recognized self-rated questionnaire used to assess subjective sleep quality. A higher total score indicates poorer sleep quality. It encompasses seven components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. This study assesses changes in the PSQI total score to determine the impact of yoga intervention on the overall sleep status of older adults with sleep disorders.