Yoga's Effect on Fall Risk Factors in the Rural, Older Adult Population; an Academic/Community Partnership

This is a 2 year pilot project to develop an intervention, and to test research methods and evaluation to assess the effects of yoga on core strength and balance of an older population in an effort to ultimately reduce the frequency of falls. The literature suggests that increased core body strength improves balance and reduces fall frequency in the elderly. Yoga increases core strength. There is limited evidence that regular yoga exercising is associated with a decreased frequency of falls in the older adult population. However, there have not been any randomized trials testing the impact of a yoga program on fall frequency. The investigators' goal for this project is to develop a yoga program that is feasible, safe, and acceptable to an older population then test the intervention, research methods and evaluation in preparation for conducting a randomized trial of the intervention.

This study is conducted with the investigators community partner, the aging and disabilities resource center (ADRC) of Southwest Wisconsin. The ADRC will help with recruiting, posting on ADRC's website and flyers. The ADRC will provide locations for classes and assessments. Recruitment will also occur through local community event announcements.

An advisory board of 8-10 members of older adults will inform about needs and feasibility, and help review the handbook and video. The advisory boards involvement will be in the preparatory phase of the research, along with full project oversight.

Enrollment Questionnaire

Eligible subjects will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire will include questions about: 1) Demographics including age, gender, race, ethnicity, years of education, income level, 2) Number of falls in the past 1 month, 6 months and 1 year, and 3) Fear of falling questions using the ABC (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale).