Two faculty members at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla., were awarded a $389,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the effectiveness of the “Sit N Fit” Chair Yoga Program on people 65 years and older with osteoarthritis, who are unable to participate in standing exercises, according to a news release.

Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing professor Ruth McCaffrey, RN, ND, DNP, ARNP, BC, FNP, GNP, FAAN, and Juyoung Park, PhD, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work within FAU’s College for Design & Social Inquiry, received
the grant.

Effectiveness of program for elders

“This grant provides us with the opportunity to collect evidence about the health outcomes and potential effectiveness of the ‘Sit N Fit’ Chair Yoga Program in elders with osteoarthritis,” said McCaffrey, in a news release. “Creating an evidence-based program that can be replicated is important as it has the potential to disseminate safe, effective, low-cost and widely available treatment for this disabling joint disease.”

The program’s goal is to decrease pain, and improve physical and psychosocial functions of elderly people with osteoarthritis who are unable to participate in other exercise and yoga programs.