Yoga as an add on intervention to the conventional management of ankylosing spondylitis A RCT study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: newlineAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is an auto-immune meditated chronic inflammatory disease. It newlinecontributes to significant disability and reduced quality of life. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis newline(AS) often report psychological and physical problems and have a poor quality of life (QoL). Yoga is newlinea complementary and alternative medicine that has positive effects physical mental health. newlineAIMS AND OBJECTIVES: newlineTo study the effects of a 3-month tele-yoga intervention on disease activity, inflammatory markers newlineand mental health measures in patients with AS. newlineMETHODS: newlineOne hundred and twenty AS patients were assigned to either the yoga intervention group (YG) or the newlinewait list-control (CG). The YG (n=57) received a 60-minute structured yoga module online for 3 newlinemonths in addition to standard medical care. The CG participants (n=52) received only standard care newlineduring the same period. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath newlineAnkylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Ankylosing Spondylitis -- Quality of Life newline(ASQOL) and psychological and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed at baseline and after an newlineinterval of three months. newlineRESULTS: newlineYG showed significant improvement in BASDAI (p=0.001), anxiety (p=0.0004), and depression newline(p=0.001) at 3 months compared to baseline. The CG showed no significant change in similar outcome newlineevaluating measures. After 3 months, the intervention resulted in a significant improvement in BASDI newline(-0.79; 95% CI (-1.3, to -0.29); p=0.0021), BASFI (-0.86, 95% CI (-1.59, to -0.14); p=0.0193), anxiety newline(-0.42, 95% CI (-0.84 to -0.01), p=0.0468), and AS-QoL (-3.37; 95% CI (-5.21 to 1.53); p=0.0004) newlinecompared to the CG. newlineCONCLUSION: newlineThe present study suggests that yoga helps improve pain, functional index, and mental health in newlinepatients with AS. Tele-yoga intervention is feasible and effective in treating AS. newlineKEYWORDS: Rheumatology, Auto-immune conditions, Pain, Mind-Body Medicine, Yoga, and newlineMeditation. newline