EFFICACY OF YOGA BASED REGIMEN FOR TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - A ONE YEAR STUDY

Aim of study was to determine the effect of Yoga intervention for one year on the diseases activity, disability and quality of life indices in patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis. The effect was observed on physical parameters (Health assessment questionnaire, Disease Activity score including a 28-joint count , weight, grip strength and finger squeeze test), Blood Pressure, Haemoglobin, immunological marker (Rheumatoid factor) and inflammatory marker (ESR). Total of Seventy two patients were enrolled and divided in two groups. Group 1 included 36 patients taking Allopathic medication; Group 2 included 36 rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Yoga plus Allopathic medication. A significant improvement was found in grip strength, finger squeeze test and ESR in yoga group only. Significant difference was observed in Diastolic BP, DAS-28 score, HAQ and VAS in both groups but improvement was statistically more significant in Yoga group. Study concludes that yoga combined with conventional treatment helps in better management of the disease.