Yoga Reduces Effects of Stroke

According to researchers at the Indiana University, it would appear that group yoga has the potential to improve motor function and balance in people who suffered from a stroke, even if this form of therapy begins more than 6 months after the adverse health event.

Details of the study appear in a paper entitled “Post-Stroke Balance Improves With Yoga: A Pilot Study,” which was published in the July 26 online issue of the esteemed scientific journal Stroke.

“We found that yoga exercises significantly extended rehabilitation beyond the first year after stroke,” IU expert and study leader, Arlene Schmid, PhD, says. Usually, she adds, patients finish their recovery therapies six months after the stroke.

Patients surveyed during this study reported that practicing group yoga eventually gave them more confidence in themselves, and in their ability to maintain their balance while performing everyday tasks. This lead to a significant increase in their quality of life.