After eight weeks of yoga classes improved the symptoms of patients with one of two common forms of the disease -- in addition to lifting their mood -- a new study concluded that the practice is safe and effective for those living with arthritis.
"Yoga may be especially well suited to people with arthritis because it combines physical activity with potent stress management and relaxation techniques, and focuses on respecting limitations that can change from day to day," says Susan J. Bartlett of Johns Hopkins University in the US.
Thought to be the largest randomized trial ever to explore yoga's effect on arthritis patients, the research team recruited 75 participants, all of whom had either knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
They were randomly assigned to either two séances of yoga per week for eight weeks, plus an Om session for practice one a week in the home, or to a waiting list, which served as the control group.
Researchers who were left unaware as to which group the participants belonged assessed their physical and mental health regularly.
Those who practiced yoga demonstrated a 20 percent improvement over the control group in pain, energy levels, mood and physical function, reporting being better able to perform physical tasks at work and at home.
What's more, they were able to walk faster than those in the control group, although balance and upper body strength remained unchanged between the two groups.
Nine months after the relatively short program ended, the yogis' improvements were still apparent, according to the study, which was published in The Journal of Rheumatology.
The study was developed by Clifton O. Bingham III, MD, and director of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, who says watching arthritis patients improve by doing yoga gave him the idea to conduct a formal experiment.
Health professionals have questioned the safety of arthritic people practicing yoga, which emphasizes changing positions and flexibility that can be tough on tender joints, so participants were required to get the ok from their doctors prior to the study.
"Our first step was to ensure that yoga was a reasonable and safe option for people with arthritis," says Bingham. "Our instructors were experienced yoga therapists with additional training to modify poses to accommodate individual abilities."
Working with data from their study, the researchers developed guidelines to help doctors decide whether yoga is right for their arthritic patients.
Bingham advises anyone with arthritis to address the specific joints of concern with their doctor before starting yoga and, importantly, find the right guru.
"Find a teacher who asks the right questions about limitations and works closely with you as an individual," he says. "Start with gentle yoga classes. Practice acceptance of where you are and what your body can do on any given day."
AFP RELAXNEWS
Thu Sep 17 2015
![Yoga helps alleviate arthritis, boosts mood: study Yoga helps alleviate arthritis, boosts mood: study](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/71442493467_Yoga.jpg)
For patients with arthritis, yoga could bring new light to your life, according to a recent study. - EpicStockMedia/shutterstock
Kita perlu belajar hidup dengan COVID-19 - Pakar
Itu kata Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki yang berkata pihaknya akan berusaha semampu mungkin dalam menggalakkan praktis kendiri dikalangan orang awam bagi mencegah penularan wabak seperti mana yang pernah dilakukan sebelum ini.
LHDN lulus 141,406 permohonan PKPS 2.0
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) telah meluluskan sebanyak 141,406 permohonan program khas pengakuan sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang melibatkan 102,572 bilangan kes pembayar cukai individu, 27,707 bilangan kes syarikat dan selebihnya melibatkan lain kategori seperti pertubuhan.
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721103547_WargaThailandWitt.jpg)
Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel
Seorang warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Alor Setar atas pertuduhan menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel.
Lilitan reben putih tak langgar peraturan - Timbalan Speaker
Ramli berkata, perkara itu juga adalah merupakan keputusannya dan bukan dibuat oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
KKR sedia tambah baik SOP pembinaan lebuhraya
Alaxender berkata kementerian bersedia untuk mendedahkan laporan kajian insiden jika ia melibatkan kemalangan berskala besar dan meragut nyawa.
![Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721107133_keropokberacunrem.jpg)
Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari
Tempoh reman terhadap seorang pemilik kebun disambung selama dua hari, bagi membantu siasatan kematian dua kanak-kanak yang meninggal dunia akibat makan keropok beracun.
KPM alukan pesara guru ajar Bahasa Inggeris
Jelas Fadhlina Sidek pesara-pesara guru telah banyak membantu usaha KPM dalam meningkatkan PdP bahasa Inggeris termasuk melalui Program Highly Immersive Programme Mentor (HIP Mentor).
![Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721100784_TBmysj.jpg)
Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM
Jika positif COVID-19 melalui ujian kendiri, pesakit boleh mengunjungi klinik dan hospital berdekatan bagi mendapatkan pengesahan.
![Tiger Woods selamat jalani pembedahan buku lali di New York Tiger Woods selamat jalani pembedahan buku lali di New York](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/41637550524_TBTigerWoods.jpg)
Tiger Woods selamat jalani pembedahan buku lali di New York
Tiger Woods selamat menjalani pembedahan buku lali bagi merawat arthritis yang disebabkan oleh kecederaan yang dialaminya sebelum ini.