NCT07340840

Brief Summary

Older adults living in nursing homes often experience depression, reduced satisfaction with daily activities, and changes in heart rhythm related to the autonomic nervous system. Non-drug approaches that are safe and easy to apply may help improve both emotional well-being and physical health in this population. This randomized controlled study investigates the effects of a recreational therapy-based yoga program on emotional health and autonomic nervous system function in nursing home residents aged 65 years and older. Participants are randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group or a control group. The yoga group participates in supervised yoga sessions twice a week for 10 weeks, including gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. The control group does not receive any structured intervention during the study period. Depression levels, leisure time satisfaction, and heart rate variability are measured before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability is used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system regulation. The study aims to determine whether recreational yoga can be a safe, low-cost, and effective non-pharmacological approach to improve emotional well-being and autonomic health among older adults living in nursing homes.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
36

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2023

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 10, 2023

Completed
5 days until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 15, 2023

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2023

Completed
2.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 6, 2026

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 14, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

5 days

First QC Date

January 6, 2026

Last Update Submit

January 6, 2026

Conditions

Depression in Older AdultsHeart Rate Variability (HRV)

Keywords

YogaDepressionLeisureHeart rate variabilityNursing home

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Depression Level

    Depression levels are assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), a validated self-report questionnaire for older adults. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period

  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

    Autonomic nervous system function is evaluated using heart rate variability parameters measured with a chest-worn heart rate monitor. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV parameters are analyzed to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period

Study Arms (2)

Recreational Yoga Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group take part in a recreational therapy-based yoga program conducted twice weekly for 10 weeks. Each session lasts approximately 40-60 minutes and includes gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. The yoga program is designed to be safe and appropriate for older adults living in a nursing home and is supervised throughout the intervention period.

Behavioral: Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group do not receive any structured exercise or recreational intervention during the study period and continue their usual daily activities within the nursing home.

Interventions

Recreational Therapy-Based YogaBEHAVIORAL

The yoga intervention consists of supervised group sessions including relaxation exercises, basic and progressive yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation. Sessions are held twice per week for 10 weeks. Supportive equipment such as chairs, cushions, blocks, and towels is used to ensure participant comfort and minimize injury risk.

Recreational Yoga Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age65 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsOlder Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Aged 65 years or older.
  • Living in a nursing home.
  • Able to communicate and follow instructions.
  • Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
  • Available to participate in the 10-week study protocol

You may not qualify if:

  • Participation in therapy-based practices (e.g., yoga, reiki, massage) within the last month.
  • Being bedridden.
  • Use of psychiatric medications.
  • Irregular participation in the 10-week yoga program.
  • Failure to complete pre-test or post-test assessments

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Mersin University

Mersin, 33343, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral SymptomsBehavior

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Profesör

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 6, 2026

First Posted

January 14, 2026

Study Start

June 10, 2023

Primary Completion

June 15, 2023

Study Completion

September 1, 2023

Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

TU(1)