Self-Management and Yoga for Older Adults with Chronic Stroke: A Mixed-Methods Study of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study investigated changes in physical fitness and physical activity among older patients with chronic stroke (stroke ≥ 6 months previous) after participation in a yoga infused self-management intervention.

Methods: A mixed-methods secondary data analysis examined quantitative measures of endurance, strength, and gait speed and qualitative perspectives of intervention participants.

Results: Based on Wilcoxon analysis, physical fitness outcome measures including endurance and lower and upper body strength significantly (p < .02) improved. Based on qualitative results of 2 focus groups and 14 individual interviews, participants expressed positive changes in endurance, strength, gait speed, flexibility, and balance. They also reported improvements in walking ability and duration, and expressed a desire to continue yoga and increase levels of exercise.

Conclusions: With the objective of improving physical fitness and exercise for older adults with chronic stroke, it is important for self-management interventions to provide specific safe and feasible physical activity components, such as yoga.

Clinical Implications: Health professionals may improve offered chronic stroke self-management interventions by incorporating yoga.

Keywords:

• Endurance
• exercise
• group occupational therapy
• lower extremity strength
• participant perspectives
• upper extremity strength

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank multiple students and research assistants, including Katie Hinsey, Leslie Willis, MS, OTR, RYT, Ruby Bolster, and Carol Chop, OTR, RYT for their support in data collection.

Funding

This work was supported by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation [AOTFIRG13 SCHMID].

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation [AOTFIRG13 SCHMID].