Arthritis is a leading cause of disability.
It is a debilitating disease that affects mobility, overall health and well-being,
and quality of life. Although there is no cure for arthritis, remaining active
has proven to be effective for management of the disease. In a recent study,
researchers sought to examine the effect of yoga on physical and physiological
health and quality of life among individuals with arthritis.
The study, conducted by John Hopkins
researchers, found that weekly yoga can help improve both the physical and
mental well-being of arthritic patients. While physical activity is very
important for those with arthritis, 90 percent of people with arthritis do not
meet the appropriate exercise recommendations -- often due to pain and
stiffness.
The study included 75 participants with
either knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. They were randomly assigned
to either a wait list (control group) or an eight-week program consisting of
biweekly yoga classes and a weekly yoga session at home. Participants’ physical
and mental well-being were assessed before and after the yoga sessions by
researchers who did not know which group the participants had been assigned to.
The research team reported a 20 percent improvement
in pain, mood, energy level and physical function for those participants in the
yoga group compared to the control group. Additionally, participants reported these
improvements remained true nine months after the program. Yoga is likely
beneficial because it serves as a form of both stress management and low
intensity physical activity.
Bottom Line: Arthritis is a debilitating
disease and although there is no cure, remaining active has proven to be
beneficial to manage and improve symptoms of the disease. New to yoga? Try starting your day with
just ten minutes of simple yoga poses. Remember to ask your doctor before
starting any exercise program.
Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment