Study Shows Yoga May Help M.S. Patients

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Misty L. Trepke

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Study shows yoga may help M.S. patients

6/27/2004 6:25 AM

By: Medstar.com

 

http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=49996 & SecID=2

 

Until recently, multiple sclerosis patients were told that exercise

would hurt more than help. But brand new findings suggest yoga

offers a new twist to treatment.

 

Carol Wilkerson has lived with multiple sclerosis for 30 years. Now,

at the age of 56, she said yoga is her best medicine.

 

" It's, the exercise just seems to renew me and some of them sort of

relaxing the, it's just, I can sort of get my second wind. "

 

Carol recently took part in a study of M.S. patients who practiced

yoga at least once a week for six months. Researchers found that

yoga reduces the problems of both stress and fatigue, problems than

can disable up to 80-percent of M.S. patients.

 

Barry Oken, M.D., said " So I think yoga's just one way that one can

alleviate stress maybe by not dwelling on stressful things but

dwelling on the present. "

 

The new yogis also improved their physical health.

 

For most M.S. patients practicing yoga requires some minor

modifications.

 

Yoga instructor Jane Carlsen adapted the more strenuous poses.

 

She said, " We use the wall and things for balance and also use the

wall to help give MS students more information about where there

body is in space because their body may not be relaying that

information normally. "

 

Carol suffers from fatigue and numbness and said her legs often feel

as though they weigh a thousand pounds. Yoga helps. " Within a couple

hours my legs don't ache anymore. So if I can do it I know that it

improves whatever hurts at the time. "

 

Yoga's healing powers are now helping M.S. patients lead happier,

healthier lives.

 

The yoga study was done Portland-based and was just published in the

journal " Neurology " . Four-hundred-thousand Americans suffer from

multiple sclerosis. Two-hundred new cases are diagnosed every single

week. For now, there is no cure.

 

Background Information

Multiple Sclerosis

 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the body's central

nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by a

protective covering, called myelin. In patients with MS, patches of

myelin are destroyed, damaging the delicate underlying nerve tissue.

Like an exposed area of electrical wiring, the process " short-

circuits " or interrupts transmission of nerve signals. The exact

cause is unknown. However, researchers believe the condition may

occur when the body inappropriately attacks the myelin (an

autoimmune process).

 

Symptoms of MS vary from person to person and even from time to time

in the same person. Some common signs of the disease include:

fatigue, blurred vision, balance problems, poor coordination,

slurred speech, difficulty with memory and attention, pain,

numbness, stiffness, tremor, bladder problems and paralysis.

 

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, about 400,000

Americans have MS. Women are affected about twice as often as men.

The disease is more common in people with northern European

ancestry. Although it can occur at any age, most patients are

between 10 and 50 at the time of diagnosis. There is no cure for MS,

but doctors may be able to prescribe medications and therapy to ease

symptoms or slow progression of the disease.

 

Fatigue in MS

 

Fatigue can refer to a lack of physical and/or mental energy. It's a

very common symptom associated with MS, affecting up to 95 percent

of all patients at one time or another. In up to 40 percent of

patients, the fatigue is very disabling. While the disease process

itself may sap energy, several other factors can contribute to

fatigue, like heat and humidity, other medical conditions (like a

minor infection or anemia), use of certain medications, sleep

problems, stress, depression and anxiety. Deconditioning (loss of

strength and stamina due to limited movement) as well as

overwhelming household responsibilities can also contribute to

fatigue.

 

Changes in medications may help reduce fatigue in some patients.

Keeping cool can limit the effects of heat and humidity. Stress

reduction and treatment of sleep problems or depression may also be

beneficial. Exercises and mobility aids may help those with muscle

weakness or coordination problems. Women who are overwhelmed by

household chores and responsibilities can enlist the aid of family

members and friends.

 

Yoga for MS

 

Yoga is an alternative therapy that is used to reduce stress and

ease the symptoms of many different types of medical conditions. At

Oregon Health & Science University, researchers wanted to find out

what kinds of effects yoga may have on patients with multiple

sclerosis. MS patients were assigned to one of three groups: yoga

classes, exercise group, or non-intervention. The yoga participants

used a form of yoga called Iyengar yoga, which uses breathing

exercises and adapted postures and props to provide support and

balance. The 90-minute classes were held once a week; patients also

practiced at home. The exercise group had weekly sessions on

a stationary bike and a home exercise regimen. The non-intervention

group met socially once a week.

 

After six months, investigators found that yoga reduced fatigue

associated with MS. However, the therapy had no effect on cognitive

function or alertness. Researchers say yoga may help reduce fatigue

by decreasing stress levels and increasing physical activity. With

the special adaptations for balance and support, the therapy should

be safe for most MS patients.

 

Audience Inquiry

 

For general information on multiple sclerosis:

-American Academy of Neurology

http://www.thebrainmatters.org/index.cfm?key=1.1.1

 

-Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 North Andrews Ave., Fort

Lauderdale,

FL 33309,

http://www.msfacts.org/

 

-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

 

-National Multiple Sclerosis Society

733 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017, (800) FIGHT-MS

http://www.nmss.org/

 

 

For information about Iyengar Yoga:

-Iyengar Resources

http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/

 

-Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States

http://www.iynaus.org/

 

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