According to results from a study published in the November 2010 edition of Pain, yoga may be effective in battling fibromyalgia.?The study, conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, included 53 female participants (previously diagnosed with fibromyalgia) who were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group participated in an 8-week yoga program which included gentle poses, meditation, breathing exercises, and group discussion. The other group received standard medication treatment for fibromyalgia.
Questionnaires and physical tests were used to assess progress. Results showed that yoga helped combat several fibromyalgia symptoms including pain, fatigue, stiffness, poor sleep, depression, poor memory, anxiety, and poor balance. Yoga also helped with pain coping strategies. The improvements were significant enough to impact daily functioning.
Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect between 11-15 million Americans. Fibromyalgia symptoms can mimic or overlap symptoms associated with other rheumatic diseases. Fibromyalgia does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues. Therefore, it is not a disease of the joints but is arthritis-related.
Photo by Noam Armonn (iStockphoto)
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