A recent study from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine finds that yoga can help improve the symptoms of two common types of arthritis.
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Before prescribing yoga to the participants, the researchers took measures to ensure that yoga can be safe and effective for people with arthritis.
A newly conducted study has suggested that a yoga practice can improve arthritis symptoms and also puts in a better mood.
As well as helping to reduce anxiety and stress, yoga has been associated with numerous health benefits. And other studies have suggested that yoga has benefits for people suffering from dementia, breast cancer survivors and people with epilepsy.
“Rheumatoid arthritis disproportionately affects women”, said Bartlett, noting 70 percent of people with this condition are women. There is no cure, but one important way to manage arthritis is to remain active, researchers say.
However, Bartlett and colleagues note that up to 90% of people with arthritis fail to meet these recommendations, possibly due to the pain and stiffness the condition causes or because they are unsure what forms of physical activity are best for them.
Yoga improved physical and mental wellbeing by 20%.
The randomized trial assigned 75 patients who suffer from either rheumatoid arthritis or knee osteoarthritis to a yoga group or a non-yoga group.
They were randomly assigned to either two séances of yoga per week for eight weeks, plus an Om session for practice one a week in the home, or to a waiting list, which served as the control group. “The participants were asked to try new skills, but remain safe and avoid discomfort”.
It is not only adults who use yoga; the practice is used by around 3.1% of children in the US.
The researchers have developed a checklist to make it easier for doctors to safely recommend yoga to their patients.
Clifton O. Bingham, director of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, says the idea for the study grew out of his experiences treating patients. Without proper management, arthritis decreases not only mobility, but also overall health and well-being.
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The showed the yoga practitioners reported a 20 percent improvement in pain, energy levels, and mood. After eight weeks, the researchers found that there was a significant improvement in the participants’ physical comfort, psychological health and general vitality. “I was watching what happened with my patients and the changes in their lives as a result of practicing yoga that got me interested in the first place”.
