The approval was obtained from the institution head and ethical committee before starting the procedure and individual consent was taken.

First 3 week Yoga exercises were performed with support of walls and chair. (In the modified form). In the next 3 weeks yoga exercises were progressed by performing without support and increasing the hold time of asana.

Yoga included as fallows-

The data was put to statistical analysis as per the following statistical test:

Table 1: The mean value of TUG scores for group in pre and post exercises were compared. It shows that they were significant with the p value <0.0001 and Confidential Interval is 1.996 to 2.780

Table 2: The mean value of MFES scores for group in pre and post exercises were compared. It shows that they were significant with the p value <0.0001 and Confidential Interval is -0.8502 to 0.6252

The results obtained from our study were that Yoga improve the balance and reduce the fall risk in elders. Fifth most common cause of death is unintentional injury in people aged >65 years; in addition, 66.7% of unintentional injury is related to falls and their complications. [3] In humans, correct balance relies on the integration of the sense and the ability to control movement. With age, these abilities decline and become harder to control, which results in an increased risk of fall, even in the absence of specific neurological or musculoskeletal problems.[3]

After screening the community dwelling elders we found that they had mild to moderate risk of falls. However, the majority of previous research has targeted older people with increased risk of falls [10, 11]or, in some cases, unscreened community-dwelling elder. [12] The results of our study add to the existing research by targeting a well-screened group of older people which were identified to have mild to moderate balance dysfunction.

From a prevention or health promotion perspective, this is an important group to target, as many older people do not seek health professional advice until serious injury has resulted from a fall. Assessment and intervention at a stage when balance dysfunction is mild may prevent this group from progressing to having a serious fall. In addition to potential benefits in preventing falls, improved balance and related performance also are likely to have a positive impact on older people’s function and independence. Importantly, one of the significant outcomes of this targeted exercise program is an increased level of physical activity, which can lead to a range of other health benefits in older people.[13]

We found statistically significant in balance improvement and reduction in risk of fall in group. TUG and MFES was found improved and statistically significant in the group by intervening yoga (Table1 &2)

Improvement was seen in post then pre group, as yoga also helps in reconditioning of various joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments as well as reflex mechanism in order to offer a stable and comfortable posture for higher practice. Mental benefits are bringing about equilibrium in overall functioning including ego, emotions, behavior and perception. Health benefits is body functions, thereby improving overall functions of musculoskeletal, respiratory, neuromuscular, gynecological and skin condition. Spiritual objective is psychophysical. It directs the mind within and works on internal principle of energy conservation for higher upliftment of body mind and soul[14]. Endurance, Flexibility, Risk - taking ability, Breathing control, Corrects the Posture, Increase level of confidence are also improved with the yoga.

Asana used in our study are weight-bearing. In weight-bearing exercises there is an independent joint movements; relatively predictable movement patterns in adjacent joints. Movement of body segments may occur distal and/or proximal to the moving joint. Muscle activation occurs in multiple muscle groups, both distal and proximal to the moving joint. Resistance is applied to multiple moving segments. It is also use as the axial loading. Internal stabilization is by the mean of the muscle action, joint compression, and congruency and postural control. Distal segment is fixed in weight-bearing exercises. [15]

Similar results were found by Arlene A. Schmidet. al[16]who found that yoga may be a promising intervention to manage fear of fall and improve balance, thereby reducing fall risk for elders.

The yoga poses given in our study were in standing position along with the breathing control. Tadasana helps in symmetrical weight bearing on both the feet and effortless hold, body feels light, energetic and acquires agility and strengthens all antigravity musculature. [15] This asana helps to regulate the breath, control the body, gives stability and firmness. Its inculcates a feeling of determination, dedication and sound decision- making. [14]

Vrukshasanahelps to correct posture, balance, helps body to get familiar to the gravitational pulls and reduces the BOS. [9]

Trikonasana helps in uniform lateral stretch of all the muscles of the trunk. Also provides some stretching of the inner thighs and legs on which the weight is borne. The upward stare of the eyes offer exercises to those eye muscles that are not ordinarily brought into play during standing or lying positions. [9]

Virbhadrasana stretches a large number of muscles around the shoulder joints, knee joints, ankle joints, muscles of the trunk and neck. Inter costal muscles of the rib-cage also get stretched making them supple and free for deep breathing. [9]

Uttkatasana isoften used as a warm up exercise. The shoulder and knee joints are activated along with the thigh muscles. The ankle joints take the main gravitational pull and become stronger. It helps in increasing leg strength, work on core muscles stabilization which ultimately maintain balance and prevent fall. It also improves the communication between brain and muscle group. Similar result is found by Mary Lou Galantino et.al [17]who concluded that yoga i.e. (chair pose) Uttkatasana may be beneficial in improving mobility and reducing fear of falling.

Man-Ying Wang et,al[18]concluded that musculoskeletal demand varied significantly across the different poses. These findings may be used to guide the design of evidence-based yoga interventions that address individual-specific training and rehabilitation goals in seniors.

In the frontal plane, the vrukshasana (Tree) generated the greatest average hip and knee abductor joint moments of force (JMOFs); whereas Virbhadrasana (Warrior II) generated the greatest average hip and knee adductor JMOFs. (Warrior II and One-legged Balance induced the largest average ankle evertor and invertor JMOFs, respectively) [18]

The Group exercises given in our study such as Yoga shows improvement and similar result were found by Anne Barnett, et al, [9] Stephen R. Lord et. al, [20] John T Chang et.al [21]and by Yvonne Robitaille et.al. [25] According to the ACSM Fitness Society, Shawn Dolan describeYoga and balance exercises are the exercises done in the group. Group exercises also are enjoyable, motivated.

The community dwelling elders become more independent as the balance is improved and reduces risk of fall by detecting and preventing the fall by interventions. Ultimately reduces the burden on the family and caregiver of the cost, time etc. These finding in the study that Yoga improves the balance and reduce the fall risk in elders.

On our evaluation we found 100 community dwelling elders out of 466were at risk of fall. The functional mobility (TUG), and fear of falling (MFES) showed more improvement in group. Yoga has shown significant improvement in balance and reduced the risk of fall in community dwelling elders. Therefore Yoga is effective to improve balance and reduce risk of fall.