Personalized Yoga Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: Effect on Symptom Management and Quality of Life

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of personalized yoga therapy intervention in a private setting and its effect on quality of life (QOL), sleep quality, and symptom relief among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). A single-group pre- and post-experimental study was conducted among 10 members of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India between December 2017 and April 2018. At baseline and during follow-up, QOL, sleep quality, symptoms, and pain were assessed using the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, MS Symptom Checklist, and visual analogue scale, respectively. The intervention comprised 12 private customized yoga sessions of 1 hour duration and three group sessions, all spread over 3-months. Patient feedback and direct observations by the yoga therapist we re documented at each session. Ten patients (seven female, three male, age 31–52 years) were enrolled in the yoga intervention; seven completed 8–12 sessions, and three completed fewer than 5 sessions. Therapist-to-patient ratio was 1:2. All domains except sexual function showed clinically significant improvement in QOL scores. Statistically significant improvement was found in social function (p = 0.014) and change in health status (p = 0.029) scores after the intervention. Although there was improvement in pain and sleep quality, these changes were not statistically significant. Patients reported improvement in symptoms with practice of yoga alongside lifestyle changes. The study supports the feasibility of this 3-month yoga intervention for patients with MS. Studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.

Behavioral interventions to improve sleep outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

“…Fifty one percent of the studies were conducted in North America (94% of which were in the United States), 29% in Europe, 23% in Asia, and 3% in Australia. The most prevalent study design was RCT (n=19 26-35 ; 54%; of which n=9 36-44 self-identified as being a pilot RCT) followed by single group pre-post design (n=11 45-55 ; 31%). Case reports (n=2 56,57 ; 6%), qualitative studies (n=2 58,59 ; 6%), quasi experimental studies (n=2 60,61 ; 6%), and case series (n=1 62 ; 3%), were also included.…”

“…39,51,57 Sleep was stated as the primary outcome in nine 26,27,32,36,41,43,45,46,50 of the 37 studies. The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was the most commonly used sleep outcome utilized in 19 26,29-31,35-39,41,42,44,48,50,53-55,57,60 of the studies followed by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (n=10 32-34,37,39,42,44,45,56,62 ), actigraphy (n=5 37,38,43,46,60 ), and sleep log/diary data (n=5 38,43,46,56,57 ); six of the studies incorporated an objective measurement (actigraphy (n=5 38,43,46,56,57 ); EEG (n=1 45 )). Interventions included physical activity (n=13 31-33,37-39,41,45,46,50,51,53,55 ), CBT-I (n=6 42-44,56,57,62 ), CBT/psychotherapy (n=4 26,27,30, ), mindfulness/relaxation (n=6 28,48,49,58-60 ), education and self-management support (n=3 29,36,54,61 ), and complementary and alternative interventions including acupuncture 47 , neurofeedback and hypnosis 64 , trauma releasing exercises 52 , foot reflexology 35 , integrated imaginative distention 34 (all ...…”

“…Thirteen of the 37 included studies incorporated physical activity as a behavioral intervention. [31][32][33][37][38][39]41,45,46,50,51,53,55 A variety of physical activity interventions were used including resistance training, 46 aerobic exercise, 32,37,41,45 general individualized exercise programs, 39,50 physical activity lifestyle interventions, 31,38,53 yoga, 55 exoskeleton assisted walking, 51 and aquatic exercise. 33 Five of the physical activity studies stated sleep was a primary outcome.…”

“…In the other three single group pre-post study design physical activity studies, sleep was not the primary outcome or it was unclear if sleep was a primary outcome. Vasudevan et al 55 reported non-significant improvement on the PSQI using a 12-week personalized yoga program.…”

Multiple Sclerosis: Improving Quality of Life with Yoga

“…Although the academic and practitioner-based literature is not particularly robust with studies investigating the effect of yoga on life quality in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), some researchers have supplied the field with high-quality research and thereby provided results from which to build upon [1]. For instance, Hassanpour-Dehkordi and Jivad (2014) note that yoga and aerobic exercises improve quality of life in individuals with (MS) as did Stroud and Minahan (2009) [2, 3].…”