Effectiveness of Yoga and Combined Exercise in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA

Treatments: Other: Exercise; Other: Mind-body therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07072754

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Yoga

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to elucidate the potential benefits of exercise for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of novel and effective therapeutic approaches, ultimately leading to an improved quality of life for patients. For both patients and healthcare professionals, a clearer understanding of exercise's role in rheumatoid arthritis management will serve as a crucial guide in formulating individualized treatment plans. The results of our study will provide valuable insights to aid in developing strategies aimed at enhancing the physical and mental well-being of individuals afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.

Full description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that significantly impacts daily life by causing pain, swelling, and restricted movement in the joints. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yoga and combined exercise methods on the symptoms of RA in individuals with the condition, comparing them to a control group that did not engage in exercise. Participants were comprehensively evaluated at baseline, week 8, and week 20 for key variables such as pain level, balance, joint mobility, depression level, fatigue level, and quality of life. This research seeks to reveal the potential benefits of exercise in RA management, thereby contributing to the development of effective treatment approaches that improve patients' quality of life. The findings will help both patients and healthcare professionals better understand the role of exercise in RA treatment, serving as a crucial guide for creating individualized treatment plans. The results are expected to offer valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance the physical and mental health of individuals with RA.

Enrollment: 74 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosis of RA for at least six months according to the ACR criteria
• aged between 18-65 years,
• under stabil medications at least four weeks
• the disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) <2.6 (Remission period) of each patient at least three months
• ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• had pain that prevents general mobility,
• had neurologic, cardiologic (arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, uncontrolled metabolic disease,
• known electrolyte abnormalities,
• systolic BP > 200 mm Hg or diastolic BP > 115 mm Hg)
• respiratory pathology,
• pregnancy
• had malignancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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74 participants in 3 patient groups

Yoga

Experimental group

Description:

The yoga program, led by a physiotherapist who is also a certified yoga instructor , with two sessions per week lasting one hour each. It was applied for a total of 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Mind-body therapy

Combined Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the exercise group were given a program that included warm-up, low-impact aerobic, strengthening, and cooling phases, totaling 60 minutes, repeated twice a week for eight weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Exercise

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No exercise was applied to the subjects included in the control group.