Aim: Present study was aimed to find out the effect of yoga on physical symptoms, routine blood parameters, immunological and inflammatory markers. Materials and Methods: Total of 72 rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled and divided in two groups. Control group included 36 patients taking allopathic medication. Treatment group included 36 patients taking yoga along with allopathic medication. The study intended to evaluate the effect of one year of yoga intervention on joint swelling, morning stiffness, ESR, RA factor, IL-6, liver Function tests (LFT) and kidney function tests (KFT).
Results: In yoga group, a more significant reduction in morning stiffness and joint swelling (p<0.001) was observed as compared to control group. Reduction in ESR was only in yoga treatment group (p<0.01). However no significant effect was observed in RA factor, IL-6 or LFT in the group undertaking yoga. It was observed that in yoga group creatinine values decreased (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Significant reduction in morning stiffness, joint swelling and ESR in patients who underwent regular yoga emphasizes importance of natural healing measures in order to limit inflammation in RA. Unaltered levels of inflammatory marker IL6 point to the importance of other forms of physical therapies, which if included along with yoga may play a better role in arresting RA earlier and in a better way.
