A BSTRACT Introduction: Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer are prevalent among the elderly, significantly impacting their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Physical activity, including yoga and light exercise, has been shown to improve various health outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of yoga and light exercise interventions on HRQOL in older adults. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases up to March 2024. We included all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of yoga and light exercise interventions among elderly populations. Data extraction followed a standardized protocol, and statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5 software. We calculated mean differences and odds ratios to compare intervention and control groups. A fixed-effects model was applied to assess the overall efficacy of interventions. Results: The findings demonstrated that yoga therapy significantly improved several dimensions of quality of life in the elderly, including cognitive function and sleep quality. Additionally, the interventions were effective in reducing psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis provides evidence supporting the beneficial role of yoga and light exercise in enhancing physical and psychological well-being among older adults.
Subalakshmi et al. (2025) studied this question.