Harnessing the benefits of yoga for myositis, muscle dystrophies, and other musculoskeletal disorders
Authors
Ahmad Saud
Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
Maryam Abbasi
Dubai Medical University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Holly Merris
Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP UK
Pranav Parth
North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College, Delhi, India
Xaviar Jones
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Smidt Heart Institute, Los Angeles, CA USA
Rohit Aggarwal
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
Latika Gupta
Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP UK
Keywords:
Dermatomyositis, Inclusion body myositis, Inflammation, Muscular dystrophy, Myositis, Yoga
Abstract
The recent global increase in popularity of home-based yoga, an ancient Indian technique practiced for thousands of years, has translated into its use as a complementary therapy for a multitude of ailments. This review aims to examine the published literature regarding the effects of yoga therapy on systemic chronic diseases; in particular on the inflammatory myopathies (IMs) and other muscle disorders.
Despite the fact that the evidence base for yoga in inflammatory myositis is in its infancy, collateral results in other disorders such as muscular dystrophies are promising. A beneficial effect of yoga in chronic pain has been shown alongside an improvement in motor function and muscle strength. Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with respiratory involvement may find improvement in lung function. Elderly patients may experience reduction in falls secondary to an improvement in balance while practicing long-term yoga therapy.
Further benefits are improving disorders of mental health such as depression and anxiety. A reported improvement in overall quality of life further suggests its efficacy in reducing morbidity in patients with chronic diseases, who often suffer co-existent psychological comorbidities.
Keywords: Dermatomyositis, Inclusion body myositis, Inflammation, Muscular dystrophy, Myositis, Yoga
Author Biography
Latika Gupta, Department of Rheumatology, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP UK
Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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