Yoga proven to be effective therapy for fibromyalgia

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!


Hatha yoga effective for anxiety and depression

Category : Yoga

Hatha yoga for stress and depressionWhat does hatha yoga class involves?

Hatha yoga practice involves combination of  postures (asanas), purification techniques (shatkriya), gestures (mudras), breathing (pranayama), and meditation.

Scientific research proving effectiveness of Hatha yoga for anxiety and depression

Rapid stress and anxiety reduction within three month hatha yoga program

A controlled study conducted in 24 women with emotional and mental distress. Subjects were offered participation in 3-months yoga programs. After 3 months significant improvements shown on stress and psychological outcomes. Significant improvements in perceived stress, State and Trait Anxiety, well-being, vigor, fatigue and depression. Physical well-being also increased, and those subjects suffering from headache or back pain reported marked pain relief. {source}

Hatha yoga effective practice to reduce anxiety before and after practice

The search identified 17 studies (11 waitlist controlled trials) totaling 501 participants who received Hatha yoga and who reported their levels of anxiety before and after the practice. Study result shows hatha yoga treatment efficacy was positively associated with the total number of hours practiced. People with elevated levels of anxiety benefited the most. {source}

Prenatal yoga reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

Prenatal yoga was found to be a feasible and acceptable intervention and was associated with reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

A study conducted on  46 pregnant women with symptoms of depression and anxiety to an 8-week yoga intervention or treatment-as-usual (TAU). Yoga was associated with high levels of credibility and satisfaction as an intervention for depression and anxiety during pregnancy. Participants in both conditions reported significant improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety over time; and yoga was associated with significantly greater reduction in negative affect as compared to TAU. {source}

Yoga and meditation based relaxation boost mood, reduces anxiety and improve memory

Yoga and meditation can alleviate stress, anxiety, mood disturbance, and musculoskeletal problems, and can enhance cognitive and physical performance.

A controlled study evaluated the benefits of yoga and meditation for musicians.  A group of 15 Young adult professional musicians each who volunteered to participate in a 2-month program of yoga and meditation were randomized to a yoga lifestyle intervention group  or to a group of  practicing yoga and meditation only. Additional 15 musicians were recruited to a no-practice control group. Both yoga groups attended three Yoga or meditation classes each week. The yoga lifestyle group also experienced weekly group practice and discussion sessions as part of their more immersive treatment.

Both yoga groups showed a trend towards less music performance anxiety and significantly less general anxiety/tension, depression, and anger at end-program relative to controls. Results shows that yoga and meditation techniques yoga and meditation techniques themselves may have mediated the improvements, can reduce performance anxiety and mood disturbance in young professional musicians. {source}

Immediate anxiety relief and improved memory after a cyclical combination of yoga postures and meditation class

A yoga practice involving cycles of yoga postures and supine rest (called cyclic meditation) was previously shown to improve performance in attention tasks more than relaxation in the corpse posture (shavasana).

A study of fifty-seven male volunteers the immediate effect of two yoga relaxation techniques was studied on memory and state anxiety. All participants were assessed before and after (i) Cyclic meditation (CM) practiced for 22:30 minutes on one day and (ii) an equal duration of Supine rest (SR) or the corpse posture (shavasana), on another day.

Study result shows significant improvement in the scores of all sections of the Wechsler memory scale (WMS) studied after both CM and SR, but, the magnitude of change was more after CM compared to after SR. The state anxiety scores decreased after both CM and SR, with a greater magnitude of decrease after CM. {source}

Yoga may facilitate neuroplasticity through stress reduction in depressed patients

Depression is associated with low serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and elevated levels of serum cortisol. Yoga practices have been associated with antidepressant effects, increase in serum BDNF, and reduction in serum cortisol.

Study examined the association between serum BDNF and cortisol levels in drug-naïve patients with depression treated with antidepressants, yoga therapy, and both.

Study results shows significant improvement in depression scores and serum BDNF levels, and reduction in serum cortisol in the yoga groups. In conclusion, yoga may facilitate neuroplasticity through stress reduction in depressed patients. {source}

Conclusion

Hatha yoga is a promising prevention and treatment of stress-related disease like anxiety, depression and improve memory.

Do you practice yoga and mediation for stress management? Which yoga poses and meditation do you prefer ? Share your thoughts in the comments below!


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