Yoga For Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Review of Prospective Clinical Studies

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include different pathological conditions of the locomotor system, characterized by pain and limitations in mobility and functioning. The most frequent arthropathies include joint disorders and arthritis. Yoga is an ancient mind-body discipline which has received great attention in clinical research. This critical review intends to analyze the updated literature on clinical outcomes of yoga interventions for MSDs.

Prospective clinical studies evaluating the effects of yoga for MSDs have been searched in Web of Sciences, Scopus and PubMed databases using yoga-related keywords in association with numerous disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. We explored all protocols to identify similar movements or asana reported with different (uncommon) names or imprecise description, and to be useful for clinicians, we summarized yoga exercises with specific target for body areas and related pathologies.

Overall, 1150 articles were screened, among which 52 prospective clinical studies (total 4151 patients) were selected. The clinical outcomes of yoga were compared with active control groups (rehabilitation, drugs) or passive controls (self-care education or no intervention). The analysis was performed towards specific musculoskeletal disease, affected body area, study type, yoga protocol details, and outcomes in measured and self-reported parameters. All 52 studies showed marked benefits in every or some parameters: measurable outcomes as well as self-reported improvements were higher in yoga groups than in controls, and in some studies even better than drug therapy.

This review highlights the potential benefits of yoga interventions for MSDs. Data highlights that yoga may help improve mobility, reduce reliance on medications, and enhance quality of life and could be considered as a complementary approach alongside conventional medical treatments. However, the heterogeneity of protocols, outcomes, and potential risks of bias highlight the need for rigorous trials to strengthen confidence in these findings and to identify the most effective protocols.