Using Yoga to Promote Bone Health and Reduce Fracture Risk in the Geriatric Population

In this article, we review the literature on the applicability of Hatha Yoga for bone health in a geriatric population. We also describe our recent pilot study assessing the effects of Hatha Yoga on bone turnover markers, and we discuss the logistics and feasibility of yoga in our study population, which comprised sedentary osteopenic women. We discuss the practical lessons learned from our pilot study. Yoga has the potential to decrease fracture risk in a geriatric population via several mechanisms, including improving balance, reducing fall risk and fear of falls, improving functioning, reducing hyperkyphosis, and improving bone turnover.