Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurological impairments are defined by the APA as a disruption of the nervous system, resulting in disease, injury, or pharmacological effects. Some of the most common neurological impairments include migraine, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke/cerebrovascular accident (CVA), dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)–type dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). With these conditions, the nervous system may become limited in the following areas: memory, control and cognitive functioning, sensory and motor skills, speech, language, organizational skills, information processing, affect, social skills, and/or basic life function. Due to the nature and severity of these conditions, many individuals experience deficits when participating in activities of daily life. This critically appraised topic aims to explore the effectiveness of yoga interventions on improving balance in patients with neurologically impairments. METHODS: Level IA and IIB studies were analyzed and included in the CAT if they were published within the last 10 years, included individuals with neurological impairment, included yoga, included subjects not currently taking yoga classes, and had a greater than or equal to sample size of 20 participants. RESULTS: Yoga interventions showed statistically significant improvements in balance for patients with neurological conditions. This research is helpful for occupational therapists to consider when choosing a supplemental intervention to traditional therapy for patients among this population that may struggle with balance.