Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity

Abstract

Eighty-four prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to yoga, massage therapy or standard prenatal care control groups to determine the relative effects of yoga and massage therapy on prenatal depression and neonatal outcomes. Following 12 weeks of twice weekly yoga and massage sessions (20 minutes each) both therapy groups versus the control group had a greater decrease on depression, anxiety and back and leg pain scales and a greater increase on a relationship scale. In addition, the yoga and massage therapy groups did not differ on neonatal outcomes including gestational age and birthweight, and those groups, in turn, had greater gestational age and birthweight than the control group.

Intervenciones psicológicas perinatales en depresión materna y vínculo madre-bebé: una revisión sistemática

“…en términos generales, las intervenciones en depresión materna revisadas que reportan resultados positivos, utilizan modelos cognitivos conductuales, centrados en el rol parental, la autoestima materna, el sentido de competencia, la resolución de problemas y los cuidados del bebé (matthey et al, 2004; milgrom et al, 2011). A diferencia de estos dos estudios, Field et al (2007Field et al ( , 2009Field et al ( , 2011 implementan una intervención en la embarazada a partir de masajes realizados por la pareja, lo que incrementa el bienestar corporal, reduce dolores musculares frecuentes en los trastornos depresivos al mismo tiempo que mejora el ánimo de la madre. estas intervenciones incorporan una modalidad de trabajo menos estudiada, pero que por sus resultados favorables resulta importante tener en cuenta para el diseño de intervenciones futuras.…”

“…otro estudio que considera el modelo cognitivo conductual y muestra resultados favorables en la reducción de la depresión, complementa la intervención psicoeducativa grupal con visitas domiciliarias realizadas por enfermeras (Honey, Bennet y morgan, 2002). Field et al (2007Field et al ( , 2009Field et al ( y 2011, tratan la depresión materna a través del uso de masajes terapéuticos en el embarazo considerando distintas variaciones, masajes desarrollados por la pareja, por personas significativas y por un experto. Todas estas intervenciones reportan una mejoría en la sintomatología depresiva de las madres, agregándose en algunas de ellas la reducción del cortisol y una menor frecuencia de partos prematuros y bajo peso en el bebé (Field et al, 2009).…”

Physiological effects of yoga asanas and pranayama on metabolic parameters, maternal, and fetal outcome in gestational diabetes

“…[16] Field examined the benefits of yoga and pregnant women who were clinically depressed reporting that the yoga intervention group had longer gestational age and increased birth weight as compared to the control group receiving no yoga therapy. [17] Another study by Martins and Pinto e Silva showed that women with pregnancy-related lumbar and pelvic pain had reduced pain after a 10 weeks yoga intervention (P < 0.0058). The pain level was measured by a visual analog scale and by pain provocation tests.…”

Yoga as an Alternative and Complementary Therapy for Patients Suffering From Anxiety

“…5 Nineteen of the 27 studies analyzed showed a significant decrease in state and/or trait anxiety through the use of yoga. [2][3][4][5][6]13,14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Although not all studies found a significant decrease in anxiety, many did find reductions not at a statistically significant level. Randomized control design, considered the most robust because of minimum threats to external and internal validity, was instituted in 18 of the studies.…”

“…3,15,18,20,27 It incorporates yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayamas), brief meditation (dhyana), and balancing of opposite properties (heat/ activation with cool/calming) to foster mental health development. 16 The remaining studies incorporated unspecified yoga techniques, 5,6,9,14,23 various techniques, including the ones mentioned above and others, 2,8,13,16,19,21,22,26 Kripalu, 7 and mindfulness-based stress reduction. 17 Among the studies identified the duration of yoga intervention ranged from one-time yoga session 3,9,20 to a 7-month yoga intervention.…”