More people than ever are performing the age-old practice of yoga. Yoga can stretch you, it can relax you, and now it might help people with arthritis. According to the American Yoga Association, yoga might help people with arthritis deal with pain and stiffness, improve range of motion, and increase strength for daily activities.
One of the most common forms of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which affects approximately three million Americans, of which more than 75 percent are women. RA is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue lining the joints, leading to pain, deformity, and disability that might be permanent.
Long History of Use
For thousands of years, people have used yoga to build flexibility and strength, improve concentration, relieve stress, and increase energy. Today, the benefits of yoga may extend to people with RA. According to a pilot study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology, people with RA who participated in a yoga program over a three-month period experienced greater handgrip strength compared to those who did not practice yoga.
"People with RA may benefit from low-impact exercises like yoga to help improve overall health and fitness without further damaging or hurting the joints," said Cheryl Lambing, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California Los Angeles. "Physical activity may optimize both physical and mental health and plays a vital role in disease management."
Remain Active
The unique Remain Active with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Yoga Guide encompasses traditional yoga poses, including range-of-motion, muscle strengthening, and endurance exercises. These are the three major forms of exercise typically prescribed for people with RA. Each exercise contains detailed photographs and instructions indicating the proper way to perform each movement, with variation of exercises based on disease severity. It is important for people with RA to speak with their physician before embarking on any new exercise program. |
