The Effect of Yoga Asana "Vrksasana (Tree Pose)" on Balance in Patients With Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the effect of the add-on effect of the Tree Pose (Vrksasana) on the balance of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis was investigated.

DESIGN

Thirty-two patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomly assigned to conservative exercise group (30 mins/d for 12 wks) or Tree Pose-added exercise group (30-min conventional exercise + 2-min Tree Pose/d for 12 wks) by Microsoft Excel randomization option. The balance of the patients was evaluated with Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, single-leg standing test, tandem walk test, tandem stance test, and Korebalance static&dynamic balance tests at baseline, sixth week, and third month of the exercise program.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference on baseline data between groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the sixth-week measurement of single-leg stance (P < 0.05). In the Berg Balance Scale, static balance test, dynamic balance test, and tandem walk test, a statistically significant difference was found among baseline, sixth-week, and 12th week measurements in both the exercise group and the Tree Pose-added exercise group.

CONCLUSIONS

Gains in the static and dynamic balance of postmenopausal osteoporotic patients can be obtained by adding "Vrksasana" to conventional exercises.