The Effectiveness of an Eight-Week Yoga Exercise for the Improvement of Flexibility, Agility, and Muscle Endurance in Overweight Elderly Women

• Published in: Journal of exercise physiology online 2022-12, Vol.25 (6), p.14
• Main Authors: Buttichak, Arunya, Yuyongsin, Sarocha, Jaisuk, Jittima, Muangritdech, Nattha, Namboonlue, Chaiyawat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exercise; Fitness training programs; Older people; Overweight persons; Yoga
• ISSN: 1097-9751; 1097-9751

Buttichak A, Yuyongsin S, Jaisuk J, Muangritdech N. Namboonlue C. The Effectiveness of an Eight-Week Yoga Exercise for the Improvement of Flexibility, Agility, and Muscle Endurance in Overweight Elderly Women. JEPonline 2022;25(6):14-26. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an 8-week yoga exercise for the improvement of flexibility, agility, and muscle endurance in overweight elderly female subjects. Fourteen females 60 to 79 years of age from Saensuk Elderly Association Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand were selected. The subjects performed the yoga exercise training program for 60 min*[d.sup.-1], 3 d*w[k.sup.-1] for 8 weeks. Their flexibility (Back Scratch Test), agility (Agility Course Test), and muscle endurance (30 Seconds Arm Curl Test) were measured before and after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of the experimental period. After 4 weeks of training, the yoga exercise improved flexibility [Rt. hand put on Lt. hand (P = 0.001) and Lt. hand put on Rt. hand (P = 0.018)] and agility (P = 0.001). In addition, muscle endurance was improved after 8 weeks of training (P = 0.001). Thus, the findings indicate that yoga exercise training resulted in an increase in physical fitness in the overweight elderly women due to an improvement in flexibility, agility, and muscle endurance. Key Words: Agility, Elderly, Flexibility, Muscle Endurance, Yoga