Yoga as a complementary therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a case-based review.

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents patients with chronic pain and functional limitations due to its autoimmune nature. Despite symptomatic and pharmaceutical interventions, many patients experience inadequate relief, prompting exploration into non-pharmacological approaches such as yoga. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for RA by examining clinical data from patients experiencing chronic pain and limitations. This study analyzed several clinical cases at the Shymkent City Regional Clinical Hospital. Ten RA patients, irrespective of various demographic factors, were enrolled. Parameters including pain intensity, inflammation activity, systolic blood pressure, joint function, and morning stiffness were assessed to gauge the impact of yoga. The findings demonstrated notable positive changes following a three-month yoga program. These changes encompassed enhanced joint health, reduced pain severity, and decreased disease activity. Particularly noteworthy was the reduction in morning stiffness by an average of 31 min, alongside a decrease in the average pain index from 80 mm to 41.5 mm. The mean RA activity level decreased from 5.8 to 4.7. Furthermore, mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 15.5 mmHg, and mean cholesterol levels decreased from 5.3 mmol/L to 4.8 mmol/L. These results underscore the potential significance of yoga as a supplementary intervention for RA. Yoga practice may enhance patients' quality of life and alleviate disease symptoms. Nevertheless, the study's limited sample size necessitates caution, and further research is warranted to validate these findings.