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Introduction
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the joints. It is a multisystemic disease that can involve other organs if not treated adequately.
Yoga is an integrative health strategy that focuses on both the physical and psychological aspects of a disease. It has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce the severity of symptoms in a variety of conditions, including RA.
Methods
A study published in Scientific Reports in 2023 investigated the effects of yoga on RA symptoms. The study was conducted on 64 RA patients with active disease.
The participants were randomized to either an eight-week yoga intervention or a control group. The yoga intervention consisted of two one-hour yoga classes per week. The control group received usual care.
Results
The study found that eight weeks of yoga practice significantly reduced disease activity, normalized the biomarkers associated with inflammation, and re-established immunological tolerance.
Yoga also reduced the rate of immunological aging and improved neuroplasticity.
Discussion
The findings of this study suggest that yoga has an immune-modulatory potential that can induce molecular remission in RA and re-establish immunological tolerance.
Yoga may also be beneficial in reducing the severity of comorbid depression.
Conclusion
Yoga is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for RA. It can improve symptoms, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life.
Author
Dr. Sarah Jones
Affiliation
Department of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco
Credit and Rights
Copyright 2023 OMG I Yoga
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