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.

Automated summary

Adding the Tree Pose (Vrksasana) to conventional exercises can improve the static and dynamic balance of postmenopausal osteoporotic patients.