Yoga as a complementary therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a case-based review

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease causing chronic pain and functional limitations.
• Current treatments offer inadequate relief for many RA patients, necessitating exploration of complementary therapies.
• Yoga is being investigated as a non-pharmacological approach to manage RA symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To assess the impact of a yoga program on clinical parameters in RA patients with chronic pain and limitations.

Main Methods:

• A clinical study involving ten RA patients at Shymkent City Regional Clinical Hospital.
• Assessment of pain intensity, inflammation, systolic blood pressure, joint function, and morning stiffness before and after a three-month yoga program.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in joint health, pain severity, and RA disease activity.
• Average morning stiffness reduced by 31 minutes; average pain index decreased from 80 mm to 41.5 mm.
• Mean RA activity level decreased from 5.8 to 4.7; systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels also decreased.

Conclusions:

• Yoga shows potential as a significant supplementary intervention for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Yoga practice may enhance the quality of life and alleviate symptoms for RA patients.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to validate these findings.