Yoga improves balance, mobility, and perceived occupational performance in adults with chronic brain injury: A preliminary investigation

This was a preliminary investigation to investigate potential benefits of group yoga, as past work has indicated that one-on-one yoga can improve functional deficits in adults with brain injury. Participants served as their own controls. Nine participants with chronic brain injury were recruited, and seven (four female) completed the study. Performance measures of balance and mobility and self-reported measures of balance confidence, pain, and occupational performance and satisfaction were used. Data were collected 3 times: baseline (study onset), pre-yoga (after an 8-week no-contact period), and post-yoga (after 8 weeks of yoga). Group yoga was led by a yoga instructor/occupational therapist, and sessions lasted 1 h and occurred twice a week. No participants withdrew due to adverse effects from yoga. There were no significant changes between baseline and pre-yoga. Significant improvement was observed post-yoga in balance (p = 0.05), mobility (p = 0.03), and self-reported occupational performance (p = 0.04). We observed significant improvements in balance, mobility, and self-reported occupational performance in adults with chronic brain injury. •In past work, one-on-one yoga helped to improve functional deficits in adults with chronic brain injury.•Here, 7 adults with chronic brain injury and balance deficits completed an 8-week group yoga intervention.•Participants experienced significant improvements in balance, mobility, and occupational performance after group yoga.