Comparative Effects of Chair Aerobics and Modified Surya Namaskar on Aerobic Endurance, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Older Adults Aged 60–85 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Ageing is associated with reduced aerobic endurance, increased fatigue, and diminished quality of life (QOL), leading to decreased functional independence. Chair aerobics and modified Surya Namaskar are safe, low-impact exercise interventions suitable for older adults; however, evidence directly comparing their effectiveness is limited. This study compared the effects of chair aerobics and modified Surya Namaskar on aerobic endurance, fatigue, and QOL in older adults.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among older adults (60–85 years), who were randomly assigned to Chair Aerobics (Group A, n=26), Modified Surya Namaskar (Group B, n=26), or Control (Group C, n=26). Participants underwent supervised exercise sessions three times weekly for eight weeks. Outcomes included aerobic endurance assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), fatigue using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.
Results: Both intervention groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in aerobic endurance, fatigue, and QOL after eight weeks. Chair aerobics produced greater improvement in aerobic endurance (381 ± 32.47 m to 436 ± 34.50 m) than modified Surya Namaskar (359 ± 53.17 m to 390 ± 50.60 m), while the control group showed minimal change. Chair aerobics also demonstrated significantly greater improvements in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains of QOL. Although fatigue scores decreased in both intervention groups, between-group differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Both chair aerobics and modified Surya Namaskar effectively improved aerobic endurance, reduced fatigue, and enhanced QOL in older adults. Chair aerobics demonstrated superior benefits for aerobic endurance and QOL, suggesting it as a practical and accessible intervention for healthy ageing.