Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Maintaining physical activity (PA) is essential to preserve cardiac health in older patients. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is commonly prescribed following acute cardiac events, and continued PA outside of CR is recommended. Yet, older cardiac patients face challenges with PA. Yoga can improve psychological, cognitive, and physical health outcomes, but the feasibility and effectiveness of online-based yoga for older cardiac patients remains unknown.
Objectives: We examined feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a gentle yoga program on psychological, cognitive, and physical health in older (≥ 65 years) cardiac patients who completed CR.
Methods: This was a 2-group randomized controlled (yoga vs control) pilot study conducted using mixed methods in older (N = 37; 74±6 years) cardiac patients. After randomization, the yoga group received online yoga twice/week for 12 weeks whereas the control group maintained usual care. Quantitative data included feasibility outcomes, retention, attendance, and satisfaction rates; and effectiveness outcomes: depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), maintenance self-efficacy (Maintenance self-efficacy-4), cognitive health (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), PA levels (ActiGraph), sleep parameters (ActiGraph, sleep diary, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale), balance (Xsens), and muscle strength (handheld-dynamometry). Independent and paired t-tests with effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were used for analysis. Qualitative data were collected at 12 weeks and analyzed using a descriptive content analysis approach.
Results: Retention, attendance, and satisfaction rates were 84%, 89%, and 91%, respectively. We found significantly greater hip muscle strength in the yoga group compared to the control group (22.8 ± 6.9 vs. 17.2 ± 6.2, d = .78, p = .038) after 12 weeks. Compared to baseline, improvements in maintenance self-efficacy (11.9 ± 1.1 vs. 13.3 ± 2.1, d ≥ .5, p = .038) and cognitive function (delayed recall: 3.9 ± 0.8 vs. 4.9 ± 0.3, d ≥ .5, p = .002) were observed only in the yoga group. Qualitative analysis revealed 6 themes and 20 categories, identifying acceptability, therapeutic benefits, and suggestions for future studies.
Conclusion: The online yoga intervention is feasible, acceptable, and shows preliminary effects. A larger trial of web-based PA intervention for older cardiac patients with longer follow-up is warranted.