Yoga for arthritis

NATION

Khaleej Times Online
Some Good News for Arthritis Sufferers: Yoga Can Ease the Pain
Staff reporter 27 September 2008

DUBAI — At least 12 sessions of yoga can significantly improve the health of some rheumatoid arthritis patients, reveals a pilot study conducted by a team of specialists from the UAE.
The study was presented at the 13th Congress of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology held recently in Yokohama, Japan.
“It is possible that yoga may have important physical and psychological benefits for patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” said Dr Humaira Badsha, rheumatology specialist at the Dubai Bone and Joint Centre. A total of 47 patients were enrolled for the study, of which 26 undertook yoga sessions, while 21 were on regular arthritis treatment.
The new programme, based on Raja Yoga, is called Vishwas Yoga for Arthritis and the study was funded by the Emirates Arthritis Foundation.
The yoga sessions were specially modified to suit arthritis patients by Dr Vishwas Chhabra, a certified yoga therapist at the centre, and Dr Badsha.
According to the study, three patients stopped taking steroids when their condition improved after the inflammation in their joints subsided.
The patients were all above the age of 18 and were diagnosed with RA according to American College of Rheumatology criteria.
Raja Yoga is defined as “concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation to further one’s acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.”
“Our study was able to demonstrate statistically significant improvements in RA disease parameters, especially Health Assessment Questionnaire scores.”