Effects of yoga-based and conventional physiotherapy programs on functional, respiratory, and psychosocial outcomes in stage II sarcoidosis: A randomized controlled trial

Sarcoidosis, a multisystemic granulomatous disease, presents with various clinical symptoms such as deterioration in respiratory functions, decreased exercise capacity, fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety-depression, and consequently reduced quality of life. A standard rehabilitation protocol has not been defined for sarcoidosis, and due to the nature of the disease, holistic approaches are crucial in this group, which is known to have multisystem involvement. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the development of future rehabilitation protocols by comparing the effectiveness of yoga and conventional physiotherapy programs delivered via telerehabilitation, in addition to standard aerobic training, in sarcoidosis patients with pulmonary involvement.

Thirty-four Stage II sarcoidosis patients were included in this study, and the participants were randomly divided into two groups (conventional physiotherapy, n=16, yoga, n=18). Before and after the 8-week programs, participants completed the following questionnaires: Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Furthermore, the 6MWT, Body Oxygen Level Test (BOLT), spirometric measurements, DLCO, Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and dyspnea (mMRC score) measurements.

Programs significantly improved exercise capacity, inspiratory muscle strength, fatigue (FAS), dyspnea, PSQI scores, anxiety-depression levels, quality of life (SGRQ), and BOLT time in both groups. While similar improvements were observed overall in intergroup comparisons, the increase in MIP and BOLT time was more pronounced in the conventional physiotherapy group. Neither program resulted in significant changes in spirometric parameters or DLCO values.

This study found that both 8-week telerehabilitation-based yoga and conventional physiotherapy programs were effective for patients with Stage II sarcoidosis. The similar effects observed between yoga and conventional physiotherapy suggest that yoga, a holistic mind-body approach, may be an effective alternative in the treatment of sarcoidosis.