Yoga's Biophysiological Effects on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Scoping Review

Yoga is a mind and body practice that includes relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises, and body postures. It can be effective in enhancing the functioning of several body systems, including the lower urinary tract. Normal lower urinary tract functioning depends in part on the coordination of the bladder, urethra, pelvic floor and other muscles, and the nerves that control them. Lower urinary tract dysfunction can lead to symptoms, that is, stress urinary incontinence (UI), urinary frequency, nocturia, urinary urgency with and without incontinence, and mixed UI. Recent evidence suggests that yoga can improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Thus, we performed a scoping review of the literature with regard to the evidence for the effects of yoga on LUTS and factors that may mediate yoga's effects on LUTS with the goal to identify gaps in knowledge regarding the relationship between yoga practice and LUTS.

The authors employed the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) methodological approach, proposed by Tricco et al., by searching the electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO, for articles using the following keywords: yoga, urinary incontinence, urinary tract, bladder, and urethra. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist.

Of the 172 articles we found, 8 articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. We found that, despite the use of different protocols, yoga may reduce certain LUTS by increasing the strength of pelvic floor muscle and/or regulating the autonomic nervous system and activating the central nervous system.

Yoga is a noninvasive practice that may improve some LUTS. Rigorous studies are needed to determine the specific mechanisms through which yoga may affect LUTS.