ROLE OF SELECTED YOGA PRACTICES IN THE TREATMENT OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: A CASE STUDY
Abstract
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease of spine which restrict the normal movement, affect peripheral joints and diminishes chest expansion. In AS the spine has less flexibility, stiffed and can result in a hunched-forward posture. If ribs are affected, it is often difficult to breathe deeply and comfortably. In the current case study, an 18 years aged boy had severe pain in his lower back radiating to the legs, gradual reduction in joint movements, stiffening of spine particularly in the morning and feeling weakness since one year. The Yoga protocol designed for the patient had been practiced regularly for three weeks. The pre and post assessment with x-ray and biochemical tests had been done which showed that patient has got improvement in his joint movements, reduced pain and good quality of sleep. The yoga intervention, which consists of specified yogic sukshma vyayama, selected yogasana and pranayama with modified diet and life style were found to be very effective. These practices had very positive effect in enhancing spinal mobility and brining the value of his C- reactive protein (CRP) in normal range. The x-ray also exhibited the improvement which was done before and after yoga practices. It shows that straitening of lumber spine was less than earlier which also gave less muscle spasm feeling in patients. The subjective improvement reporting of patient was also very positive where he felt reduced pain, comfort in the movement of spine.
This case report shows that if yoga practices are practiced regularly and properly with predesigned protocol, it will induce very positive effect on psychology of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and also traction in the spine. Such effect need to be studied on the larger scale instead of single case study with robust research design of yoga protocol for spinal disorders like ankylosing spondylitis.
Key words: Yoga, Spinal Disorder, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Arthritis
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