Beyond Analgesics: Physical Activity as a Potential Approach to Pain-Related Outcomes in Older Adults-Preliminary...

Background/Objectives: With an increasing number of older adults remaining physically active into later life, there is a growing need to understand how they manage pain and stress without relying on pharmacological treatment. Although regular physical activity supports functional independence and psychological resilience, many active older adults still experience fluctuating pain or stress. However, they often prefer non-pharmacological strategies and avoid analgesics, even when experiencing pain. Yoga interventions are widely used to address both physical and psychological components of health across diverse populations. Methods: Twenty-three adults aged ≥65 years participated in a once-weekly, 60 min yoga program. Pain intensity (VAS), pain vigilance and passive awareness (PVAQ), coping strategies (CSQ), and depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Repeated-measures ANOVA and correlational analyses were conducted. Exploratory moderation analyses examined whether individual characteristics (physical activity, age, and yoga experience) influenced associations between changes in pain-related variables. Results: After participation in a 7-week yoga program, significant differences were observed: perceived stress decreased, and passive pain awareness increased. No significant changes occurred in pain intensity, fear, depression (although a decrease was observed), or coping strategies, although participants predominantly used adaptive coping at both time points. Moderation analyses showed that physical activity buffered the association between increased passive pain awareness and heightened pain, whereas age and prior yoga experience strengthened this association. Conclusions: Even in physically active older adults, yoga participation was associated with changes in passive pain awareness and reduced stress. However, increases in passive pain awareness may differentially influence pain depending on age, physical activity level, and previous yoga experience.