Twelve sessions of yoga can significantly improve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, show results from a pilot study.
“Most patients with arthritis do not exercise regularly although it has been reported that those who exercise report less pain and have better social and physical functions,” say Humeira Badsha (Dubai Bone and Joint Center, United Arab Emirates) and colleagues.
There have been small-scale studies showing that yoga is beneficial to RA patients, but there is little information on how yoga can affect quality of life (QoL) and RA disease activity scores.
Badsha and team therefore measured the effects of a bi-weekly Raj yoga program in 26 patients with RA and compared them with 21 RA patients who were on a waiting list to receive yoga therapy at a later date.
The researchers collected demographic data, disease activity score using 28 joint count (DAS28) and data on the use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs at baseline and after 12 sessions of yoga.
The study participants completed a health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), and a QoL survey at both time points.
As reported in the journal Rheumatology International, upon completion of the yoga program, there were significant improvements in DAS28 and HAQ outcomes in patients who underwent yoga.
In contrast, QoL scores did not change in either group. The authors attribute this to the short study duration and the small number of participants.
At baseline, 70% of yoga patients and 86% of controls were receiving drug treatment. In the yoga group, no new drugs were added over the study period and six patients were able to reduce or discontinue their medications. In the control group two patients experienced flare-ups and required additional medication.
Badsha et al conclude: “Despite the small study size, we were able to demonstrate statistically significant improvements in disease activity.”
“We believe that a longer duration of treatment could result in more significant improvements and further study is warranted,” they add.