Yoga-Related Injuries in Emergency Care: A Single-Center Analysis of 67 Cases

Background: Yoga has gained popularity worldwide and is generally considered a safe physical activity. However, injuries associated with yoga practice are increasingly reported, while data on cases requiring emergency care remain limited. Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted, analyzing cases of yoga-related injuries treated at a Swiss emergency department between 2013 and 2023. Medical records of 67 adult patients (aged ≥16 years) were reviewed for demographics, injury characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes. The study population consisted predominantly of females (76.1%), with a median age of 35 years. Results: Most injuries were musculoskeletal in nature and predominantly affected a single body region (95.5%). The most frequently involved areas were the head (29.9%), lower extremities (25.4%), and spine (19.4%). Soft tissue injuries, particularly muscle and tendon strains as well as contusions, were most common. Injury patterns differed across subgroups: older patients were more likely to sustain head injuries, whereas younger individuals more frequently presented with extremity injuries, including the rare cases of fractures and dislocations. Conservative treatment was sufficient in 94% of cases, although 20.9% of patients required hospitalization. Conclusion: Yoga-related injuries presenting to emergency care are generally minor and mainly involve soft tissues; however, injury patterns vary across demographic subgroups. Older adults appear more susceptible to balance-related and head injuries, while younger practitioners are more prone to acute extremity trauma. Recognizing these population-specific differences may support targeted prevention strategies and safer yoga practice.