Relieve Pain and Improve Functioning in Fibromyalgia Patients Through Yoga

Unhealthy lifestyles and hectic schedules has led to many health problems. One such problem is 'Fibromyalgia' (FM). This is a disease in which the body is in an incapacitating condition. In the United States of America approximately 11 million people are affected by this disease. This is the number for US only. The cost of curing this disease on an average is $20 billion annually. The drugs for this disease are only up to 30% effective and improves only 20% of body's functioning.

In spite of this huge expenditure you only get a partial relief from this ailment. Besides it is not easy for one to spend 20 billion dollars every year until the disease is cured. What is the solution for this then? Will one suffering from this will have o live with it forever? No. YOGA, as usual helps FM patients overcome this illness and improvise their health to a great extent.

Dr. James Carson, at the Oregon Health & Science University said,

"Although yoga has been practiced for millennia, only recently have researchers begun to demonstrate yoga's effects on persons suffering from persistent pain. The Yoga of Awareness program stands in contrast to previous multimodal interventions with FM patients in that it integrates a wide spectrum of yoga-based techniques, postures, mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, application of yogic principles to optimal coping, and group discussions....the findings of this pilot study provide promising preliminary support for the beneficial effects of yoga in patients with FM."

FM is more prevalent in females. Approximately 80% of Fm patients are females. This is why mostly women were included in this research. Out of the total 53 women patients participating in this research 25 women were included in 'Awareness of Yoga', program while others were subjected to the standard treatment.

The yoga program, is designed in a way that it targets and cures, pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue & emotional distress caused due to Fm. Each session under this program, has approximately 40 minutes of stretching, 25 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes breathing exercises, 20 minutes of theoretical explanation and last 25 minutes involves group discussions regarding practice of this exercise.

After the completion of program when both the groups were analyzed for improvement, the yoga group showed greater signs of improvement. They experienced a more pain free life, fatigue free and greater coping strategies.

Thus, the research proves that yoga can dilute the effects of FM and thus helps these patients live a better life.

Carmela Turner is an expert in Seva Yoga who have taken Yoga Teacher Training. She knows different type of yoga which helps in keep your health good.

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