P02.166. Group yoga intervention leads to improved balance and balance self-efficacy after stroke

Methods This is a prospective pilot study of a modified yoga intervention. All study participants: had chronic stroke (>9 months); completed all rehabilitation after stroke; were able to stand but self-reported some residual disability related to walking, balance, or functional loss after stroke; and scored > 4 out of 6 on the Short Mini Mental Status Exam. Forty-seven individuals with stroke were recruited and randomized 3:1 to yoga or waitlist control. The yoga group completed one hour yoga sessions twice a week for 8 weeks. Yoga was taught by a certified yoga therapist and included modified physical postures, yoga breathing, bilateral movements, and concluded with relaxation while seated, standing, and supine. Assessments before and after the 8 weeks included: Berg Balance Score (balance), Activities Balance Confidence Scale (ABC, balance self-efficacy), and Falls-Efficacy Scale (falls-efficacy). We compared groups with a t-test/Mann Whitney. We used paired t-tests to compare baseline and 8-week data.