Monthly Archives: September 2016

Yoga proven to be effective therapy for fibromyalgia

yoga for fibromyalgiaFibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, depression, and hypocortisolism.

A pilot study used a time series design to evaluate pain, psychological variables, mindfulness, and cortisol in women with FM before and after a yoga intervention. (Scientific study: source)

Total of 22 Participants were recruited from the community to participate in a 75 minute yoga class twice weekly for 8 weeks. Questionnaires concerning pain (intensity, unpleasantness, quality, sum of local areas of pain, catastrophizing, acceptance, disability), anxiety, depression, and mindfulness were administered pre-, mid- and post-intervention. Salivary cortisol samples were collected three times a day for each of two days, pre- and post-intervention.

The results suggest that a yoga intervention may reduce pain and catastrophizing, increase acceptance and mindfulness, and alter total cortisol levels in women with fibromyalgia .

Another study aimed to verify whether techniques of yoga with and without the addition of Tui Na might improve pain and the negative impact of fibromyalgia on patients’ daily life. (Scientific study: source)

Total 40 women with fibromyalgia were randomized into two groups, Relaxing Yoga (RY) and Relaxing Yoga plus Touch (RYT), for eight weekly sessions of stretching, breathing, and relaxing yogic techniques. RYT patients were further submitted to manipulative techniques of Tui Na.

Outcome measures comprised the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), pain threshold at the 18 FMS tender points, and a verbal graduation of pain assessed before treatment and on the followup. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was assessed before and after each session and on the follow-up.

 

In conclusion, results showed that yogic techniques are valid therapeutic methods for fibromyalgia. Touch addition yielded greater improvement during the treatment. Over time, however, RY patients reported less pain than RYT. These results suggest that a passive therapy may possibly decrease control over Fibromyalgia symptoms.

A  sample of 53 female FM patients were randomized to the 8-week Yoga of Awareness program.

Data were analyzed by intention to treat. At post-treatment, women assigned to the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements on standardized measures of Fibromyalgia symptoms and functioning  including pain, fatigue, and mood, and in pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and other coping strategies. This pilot study provides promising support for the potential benefits of a yoga program for women with fibromyalgia. (Scientific study: source)

In conclusion:

Yoga is proven to be effective therapeutic effect on people with fibromyalgia.

How yoga can help in fibromyalgia?

A special yoga classes for fibromyalgia consist of gentle poses, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga-based coping instructions, and group discussions.  It effectively reduces the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Some of the potential benefits of yoga for fibromyalgia patients include

  • Improvement of coping skills.
  • Improves mood.
  • Reduces pain and fatigue.
  • Increase acceptance and mindfulness.
  • Reduces anxiety and depression.
  • Alter total cortisol level.
  • Reduces other fibromyalgia symptoms, like chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms, stifness or tightness.

How yoga helped you in managing pain or health concerns like fibromyalgia ? Which asana (posture) or breathing exercise you find it more helpful? Share your thoughts in comments below!


Yoga proven to be helpful for the treatment of Bronchial Asthma

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Category : Yoga

yoga for asthma treatmentAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways.

The chronic inflammation causes an associated increase in airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or in the early morning.

The outline of  Yoga classes for asthma generally include a set of breathing and relaxation techniques including breath slowing exercises (pranayama), physical postures (yogasanas), and meditation.

Most of the studies have reported, as the effects of yoga on bronchial asthma, significant improvements in pulmonary functions, quality of life, and decrease in medication use. 

A study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of yoga on biochemical profile of asthmatics. (Scientific study :source)

A total 276 patients of mild to moderate asthma (FEV 1> 60%) aged between 12 to 60 years were participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups:

Yoga group (with standard medical treatment and yogic intervention) and control group as standard medical treatment (without yogic intervention).

At completion of 6 months of the study period, 35 subjects were dropped out, so out of 276 subjects, only 241 subjects completed the whole study (121 subjects from yoga group and 120 subjects from control group). Biochemical assessment was carried out at baseline and after 6 months of the study period.

Result has shown that in yoga group, there was significant improvement found in the proportion of hemoglobin and antioxidant superoxide dismutase in comparison to control group and significant decrease was found in total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocytes count in comparison to control group. There was no significant change found in TLC, polymorphs, and monocytes in between group comparison.

Yoga group got significantly better improvement in biochemical variables than control group. Result shows that yoga can be practiced as adjuvant therapy with standard inhalation therapy for better outcome of asthma.

Another study has shown that yoga impart a significant degree of relaxation, positive attitude, and better yoga exercise tolerance. There was also a tendency toward lesser usage of beta adrenergic inhalers. (Scientific study: Source)

To investigate whether autonomic functions and pulmonary functions are improved in asthma patients after short term yoga training, a study was conducted with nine diagnosed bronchial asthma patients. (Scientific study: Source)

The results closely indicated the reduction in sympathetic reactivity and improvement in the pulmonary ventilation by way of relaxation of voluntary inspiratory and expiratory muscles.

Conclusion

Yoga is proven to be effective treatment for asthma problem.

How yoga can help people with Asthma?

The comprehensive yogic life style change for patients of Bronchial Asthma have shown significant benefit even within a short period.

Benefits of yoga for asthma patients

  • Improve pulmonary functions.
  • Improve proportion of hemoglobin and antioxidant superoxide dismutase.
  • Decreases total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocytes count.
  • Improve quality of life.
  • Promote relaxation.
  • Build positive attitude.
  • Decreases the use of beta adrenergic inhalers.
  • Decrease in medication use.

How yoga helped you in managing stress or health concerns like Asthma? Which asana (posture) or breathing exercise you find it more helpful? Share your thoughts in comments below!


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