Overview of Systematic Reviews: Yoga as a Therapeutic Intervention for Adults with Acute and Chronic Health Conditions

Abstract

Objectives. Overview the quality, direction, and characteristics of yoga interventions for treatment of acute and chronic health conditions in adult populations. Methods. We searched for systematic reviews in 10 online databases, bibliographic references, and hand-searches in yoga-related journals. Included reviews satisfy Oxman criteria and specify yoga as a primary intervention in one or more randomized controlled trials for treatment in adults. The AMSTAR tool and GRADE approach evaluated the methodological quality of reviews and quality of evidence. Results. We identified 2202 titles, of which 41 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 26 systematic reviews satisfied inclusion criteria. Thirteen systematic reviews include quantitative data and six papers include meta-analysis. The quality of evidence is generally low. Sixteen different types of health conditions are included. Eleven reviews show tendency towards positive effects of yoga intervention, 15 reviews report unclear results, and no, reviews report adverse effects of yoga. Yoga appears most effective for reducing symptoms in anxiety, depression, and pain. Conclusion. Although the quality of systematic reviews is high, the quality of supporting evidence is low. Significant heterogeneity and variability in reporting interventions by type of yoga, settings, and population characteristics limit the generalizability of results.

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“…The overview suggests that breast cancer survivors are most likely to experience positive change in the psychological components of QoL from practicing yoga, like improved self-esteem and body image, stress reduction, increased sleep quality, less anxiety and depression, and better emotional and social well-being [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Similar results have been found by McCall et al [ 8 ] and Pascoe and Bauer [ 27 ], stating that yoga may decrease anxiety and depression. Moreover, a pooled result from five meta-analyses on yoga trials among women with breast cancer yielded statistically significant moderate-to-large effects on psychosocial QoL outcomes [ 9 ].…”

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“…The results indicate that yoga has beneficial effects on mental health. Our results are in consensus with another overview that adds a comprehensive and methodical examination of yoga interventions in adult populations for treatment of acute and chronic health conditions and reports that yoga appears most effective for reducing symptoms in anxiety, depression, and pain [ 10 ].…”

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“…We conclude that there is potential benefit for yoga in young to midlife adults with depressive disorders or elevated depressive symptoms. Consistent with a recent umbrella review of yoga for acute and chronic health conditions, 46 our results provide limited evidence to address whether yoga may be beneficial for patients with GAD, PD or PTSD. Although current evidence suggests potential benefit, we need high-quality longer-term trials before yoga can be recommended as an evidence-based treatment for these conditions.…”

Quality of Life and Breast Cancer: How Can Mind–Body Exercise Therapies Help? An Overview Study

“…The overview suggests that breast cancer survivors are most likely to experience positive change in the psychological components of QoL from practicing yoga, like improved self-esteem and body image, stress reduction, increased sleep quality, less anxiety and depression, and better emotional and social well-being [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Similar results have been found by McCall et al [ 8 ] and Pascoe and Bauer [ 27 ], stating that yoga may decrease anxiety and depression. Moreover, a pooled result from five meta-analyses on yoga trials among women with breast cancer yielded statistically significant moderate-to-large effects on psychosocial QoL outcomes [ 9 ].…”

Combating the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic through yoga: Recommendation from an overview

“…The results indicate that yoga has beneficial effects on mental health. Our results are in consensus with another overview that adds a comprehensive and methodical examination of yoga interventions in adult populations for treatment of acute and chronic health conditions and reports that yoga appears most effective for reducing symptoms in anxiety, depression, and pain [ 10 ].…”

Evidence Map of Yoga for Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…We conclude that there is potential benefit for yoga in young to midlife adults with depressive disorders or elevated depressive symptoms. Consistent with a recent umbrella review of yoga for acute and chronic health conditions, 46 our results provide limited evidence to address whether yoga may be beneficial for patients with GAD, PD or PTSD. Although current evidence suggests potential benefit, we need high-quality longer-term trials before yoga can be recommended as an evidence-based treatment for these conditions.…”

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“…The overview suggests that breast cancer survivors are most likely to experience positive change in the psychological components of QoL from practicing yoga, like improved self-esteem and body image, stress reduction, increased sleep quality, less anxiety and depression, and better emotional and social well-being [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Similar results have been found by McCall et al [ 8 ] and Pascoe and Bauer [ 27 ], stating that yoga may decrease anxiety and depression. Moreover, a pooled result from five meta-analyses on yoga trials among women with breast cancer yielded statistically significant moderate-to-large effects on psychosocial QoL outcomes [ 9 ].…”

Combating the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic through yoga: Recommendation from an overview

“…The results indicate that yoga has beneficial effects on mental health. Our results are in consensus with another overview that adds a comprehensive and methodical examination of yoga interventions in adult populations for treatment of acute and chronic health conditions and reports that yoga appears most effective for reducing symptoms in anxiety, depression, and pain [ 10 ].…”

Evidence Map of Yoga for Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…We conclude that there is potential benefit for yoga in young to midlife adults with depressive disorders or elevated depressive symptoms. Consistent with a recent umbrella review of yoga for acute and chronic health conditions, 46 our results provide limited evidence to address whether yoga may be beneficial for patients with GAD, PD or PTSD. Although current evidence suggests potential benefit, we need high-quality longer-term trials before yoga can be recommended as an evidence-based treatment for these conditions.…”