Yoga and similar exercises can improve incontinence in older women

Research we're watching

January 1, 2025

By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

A woman sits in a yoga pose, cross-legged with her elbows resting on her knees and her hands cupped.

The study involved 240 women ages 45 to 90 (average age 62) with urinary incontinence that caused leak-age and related symptoms at least once (and averaging 3.4 times) a day. About half were taught 16 hatha yoga poses intended to strengthen the pelvic floor during two 90-minute classes each week. The other half took classes of the same length and frequency that focused on nonspecific stretching and strengthening exercises that didn't involve the pelvic floor. Both groups were asked to practice their respective regimens for an additional hour each week. They also recorded when they leaked urine and categorized each episode as urgency incontinence (losing control before reaching the bathroom) or stress incontinence (leaking urine in response to abdominal pressure such as coughing or sneezing).

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About the Author

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio

View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical … See Full Bio

View all posts by Toni Golen, MD

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