Effect of yogic practices in the management of fibromyalgia: A review

This review examined the effects of yogic practices on fibromyalgia, a condition marked by widespread pain, fatigue, stiffness, sleep issues, and tenderness, more common in women. Searching Google Scholar and PubMed without date restrictions yielded 28 results, of which eight articles were included. The review reports that yogic practices—including asanas, Surya Namaskar, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, and mindfulness meditation—helped manage symptoms such as pain, stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression. The authors conclude that yogic practices are helpful for managing fibromyalgia symptoms, but note that future randomized controlled trials comparing different yoga or exercise forms are needed to identify the most effective treatments.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, stiffness, sleep irregularities, and tenderness of joints and muscles due to dysregulation of neurophysiological functions. It is more common in women compared to men. Till now, there is no specific treatment available for FM. The review aimed to review the literature on the effect of yogic practices on FM. The search was done in the following databases: Google Scholar and PubMed. The articles were searched using the keywords, FM, FM syndrome, Yoga, Pranayama, Yogic practices, and alternative therapy, without date restrictions which yielded 28 results, and eight articles were included in the final review. A review of the included articles showed the significant role of yogic practices in managing symptoms of FM, including stiffness, pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression. The yogic interventions such as asanas, Surya Namaskar, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, and mindfulness meditation of specific duration were helpful in relieving the symptoms of FM. Yogic practices are helpful in the management of FM symptoms. Future randomized controlled trials contrasting various forms of yoga or exercise, however, will enable the identification of the most efficient treatments for FM and allow for more precise targeting of the patients who will benefit most from them.