This pilot study suggests that yoga may provide a feasible treatment option for previously yoga-naive, obese patients >50 years of age and offers potential reductions in pain and disability caused by knee OA. Future studies should compare yoga to other nonpharmacologic interventions for knee OA, such as patient education or quadriceps-strengthening exercises.
Yoga is an ancient tradition that has been westernized and often practiced for its proposed health benefits. Traditional texts describe its benefits for many types of arthritis. Two limited studies of yoga in osteoarthritis of the hands and carpal tunnel syndrome show greater improvement in pain than in control groups. Yoga uses stretching and improves strength so that it theoretically should be beneficial for some musculoskeletal problems. Yoga merits further study into its cellular and physiologic effects.
Women who participated in this program experienced fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety over time. Findings from this study may be used to improve future interventions focusing on the health outcomes of incarcerated women.
Context.-Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common complication of repetitive activities and causes significant morbidity. Objective.-To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based regimen for relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Design.-Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial. Setting.-A geriatric center and an industrial site in 1994-1995. Patients.-Forty-two employed or retired individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (median age, 52 years; range, 24-77 years). Intervention.-Subjects assigned to the yoga group received a yoga-based intervention consisting of 11 yoga postures designed for strengthening, stretching, and balancing each joint in the upper body along with relaxation given twice weekly for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group were offered a wrist splint to supplement their current treatment. Main Outcome Measures.-Changes from baseline to 8 weeks in grip strength, pain intensity, sleep disturbance, Phalen sign, and Tinel sign, and in median nerve motor and sensory conduction time. Results.-Subjects in the yoga groups had significant improvement in grip strength (increased from 162 to 187 mm Hg; P = .009) and pain reduction (decreased from 5.0 to 2.9 mm; P = .02), but changes in grip strength and pain were not significant for control subjects. The yoga group had significantly more improvement in Phalen sign (12 improved vs 2 in control group; P = .008), but no significant differences were found in sleep disturbance, Tinel sign, and median nerve motor and sensory conduction time. Conclusion.-In this preliminary study, a yoga-based regimen was more effective than wrist splinting or no treatment in relieving some symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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