EFFECTIVENESS OF YOGA INTERVENTIONS ON RANGE OF MOTION, FLEXIBILITY, AND MOBILITY IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

The aging process leads to a decline in physiological function. Older adults frequently experience reduced muscle strength, flexibility, balance, range of motion (ROM), and mobility, which can decrease physical activity and lower overall quality of life. Yoga serves as a non-pharmacological intervention with potential to improve physical function by combining posture exercises, stretching, breathing techniques, and relaxation. A literature search was conducted across the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases for articles published between 2022 and 2026. Inclusion criteria comprised healthy older adults aged ≥60 years, yoga interventions, a comparison group, outcomes assessing ROM, flexibility, or mobility, and a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) study design. Methodological quality was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Five RCT articles involving a total of 1,210 participants met the inclusion criteria. Interventions varied, including Iyengar Yoga, lifestyle-based yoga, structured yoga programs, and yoga combined with a Mediterranean diet. Findings indicate that yoga enhances upper and lower extremity flexibility, walking speed, balance, physical capacity, and functional mobility. Yoga is an effective, safe, non-pharmacological intervention to improve ROM, flexibility, and mobility in healthy older adults and support healthy aging. However, future community-based studies should focus on standalone yoga interventions and specify the exact type of yoga used to eliminate bias from confounding variables, supported by active involvement from community health workers.