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YOGA AND ARTHRITIS: A REVIEW

YOGA AND ARTHRITIS: A REVIEW
Dr. Manoj Dash, BHMS, DYT,Ph.D.

Yoga is an ancient Indian science and way of life, which influences the functioning of the brain and the rest of the body. Several studies have shown that the practice of yoga has a definite role in the promotion of positive health, including mental health, characterized by improved cardio-respiratory efficiency, autonomic responses to stressors, sleep, muscular endurance, and `higher brain functions. With an increase in the incidence of stress-related ailments, related to the rapid pace of life today, yoga has been evaluated as a treatment for such disorders in several controlled trials. The disorders, which were most likely to respond to yoga, with reduced symptoms and need for medication, were bronchial asthma, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, anxiety neurosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the state of health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. It is clear from this definition that health and ill-health are not two discrete entities as commonly understood but health should be conceived as a continuous function indicating the state of well being.The ancient Indian science, Yoga, has its origin in the Sankhya philosophy of Indian culture, which is about 8000 years old (Nagarathna, 2001). Yoga includes a wide range of techniques (e.g., physical postures, regulated breathing, cleansing techniques, meditation, philosophical principles, and devotional sessions, surrendering to the Supreme). These techniques bring about a calm and balanced state of mind, and are expected to help the spiritual evolution of the individual. However, yoga has more pragmatic applications in medicine. In order to understand these, it is important to know the concepts of health and disease in Yoga texts. According to yoga, man is in perfect health and homeostasis at his subtle levels of existence. All diseases are classified as (i) stress-related (adhija) and (ii) not stress related, e.g., injuries (anadhija) (Vasudeva, 1937). Yoga has been considered especially useful in the management of stress related disorders by getting mastery over the excessive speed of the mind. The technique to reducing the rate of flow of thoughts with deep internal awareness is yoga. This review will describe the therapeutic applications of yoga in the management of arthritis. Physical activity is an essential part of the effective treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to treatment guidelines published by the American College of Rheumatology (Hochberg, 1995; Newsome, 2002). In persons with arthritis, exercise is safe and does not exacerbate pain or worsen disease (Ettinger,1997; Minor,1999; O’Grady,2000;Bearne,2002). In fact, exercise may play a key role in promoting joint health (Forrest,1994) , since those who do not exercise often suffer more joint discomfort than those who do (Nordemar,1981). However, regular physical activity is especially important for people with arthritis, who often have decreased muscle strength, physical energy, and endurance (Lyngberg,1988). The psychological benefits of exercise such as stress reduction, fewer depressive symptoms, improved coping and well-being and enhanced immune functioning (Taylor,1985;Scully,1998;Fox,1999 Paluska,2000) also contribute to greater overall health.Scientific studies on yoga Yoga has been used in the management of a wide range of diverse ailments. While there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence of the benefits of yoga, to date only a handful of scientific studies have been conducted on persons with OA and RA (though several more are currently underway). The study conducted in England demonstrated that hand grip strength significantly improved following yoga in rheumatoid arthritis patients (Haslock,1994). It was subsequently proven that yoga resulted in similar benefits in rheumatoid arthritis patients in an Indian population (Dash, 2001). Studies in osteoarthritis of the hands and carpal tunnel syndrome show greater improvement in pain during activity, tenderness and finger range of motion (Garfinkel, 1994). These above studies have shown promising results with some improvement in joint health, physical functioning, and mental/emotional well-being. Perhaps most importantly, yoga has an important positive effect on quality of life. People with arthritis may also enjoy yoga more than traditional forms of exercise, and exercise enjoyment is an important predictor of adherence(Ryan,1997;Trost,2003).This is particularly important considering that, on average, 50% of sedentary individuals will drop out of exercise within 6 months (Dishman,1990).In summary, yoga can be a meaningful and enjoyable alternative to traditional forms of exercise such as aerobics or aquatic exercise with important health benefits. Yoga can play an important role in reducing stress and frustration that results from pain and disability, and increasing positive feelings and wellbeing. Drug treatments for OA and RA have improved markedly in the last few years. Despite this, arthritis cannot be cured, and even the best medications and medical care can only help a little. There is a great need for additional activities patients can do to reduce pain, disability, and take control of the overall impact arthritis may have on their lives. Thus, the evidence suggests that, when combined with a program of good medical care, yoga may provide important additional physical and psychological health benefits for arthritis patients. Finally, it has to be emphasized that while yoga has important therapeutic benefits, the practice of yoga is very important in the promotion of positive health and human potential in body, mind, and spirit (Scott, 1999).References:1.Nagarathna R. Yoga in medicine. API Text book of medicine (6th ed), 2001. 2.Vasudeva Sharma PL. Laghu yoga vasistha (in Sanskriit); Nirnaya sagar prakashan, Bombay 1937,P 684.3.Hochberg MC, Altman RD, Brandt KD, Clark BM, Dieppe PA, Griffin MR et al. Guidelines for the medical management of osteoarthritis. Part II. Osteoarthritis of the knee.American College of Rheumatology. Arthritis Rheum 1995; 38(11):1541-1546.4.Newsome G. Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: 2002 update. J Am Acad Nurse Pract 2002; 14(10):432-437.5.Minor MA. Exercise in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1999; 25(2):397-415, viii.6.Bearne LM, Scott DL, Hurley MV. Exercise can reverse quadriceps sensorimotor dysfunction that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis without exacerbating disease activity. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2002; 41(2):157-166.7.O’Grady M, Fletcher J, Ortiz S. Therapeutic and physical fitness exercise prescription for older adults with joint disease: an evidence-based approach. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2000; 26(3):617-646.8.Ettinger WH, Jr., Burns R, Messier SP, Applegate W, Rejeski WJ, Morgan T et al. A randomized trial comparing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise with a health education program in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. The Fitness Arthritis and Seniors Trial (FAST). JAMA 1997; 277(1):25-31.9.Forrest G, Rynes RI. Exercise for rheumatoid arthritis. Contemp Intern Med 1994; 6(11):23-28.10.Nordemar R, Ekblom B. [Effects of long-term physical therapy in rheumatoid arthritis]. Lakartidningen 1981; 78(15):1561-1564.11.Lyngberg K, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Halskov O. The effect of physical training on patients with rheumatoid arthritis: changes in disease activity, muscle strength and aerobic capacity. A clinically controlled minimized cross-over study. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1988; 6(3):253-260.12.Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health: current concepts. Sports Med 2000; 29(3):167-180.13.Fox KR. The influence of physical activity on mental well-being. Public Health Nutr 1999; 2(3A):411-418.14.Scully D, Kremer J, Meade MM, Graham R, Dudgeon K. Physical exercise and psychological well being: a critical review. Br J Sports Med 1998; 32(2):111-120.15.Taylor CB, Sallis JF, Needle R. The relation of physical activity and exercise to mental health. Public Health Rep 1985; 100(2):195-202.16.Haslock I, Monro R, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Raghuram NV. Measuring the effects of yoga in rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 1994; 33(8):787-788.17.Dash M, Telles S. Improvement in hand grip strength in normal volunteers and rheumatoid arthritis patients following yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2001; 45(3):355-360.18.Garfinkel MS, Schumacher HR, Jr., Husain A, Levy M, Reshetar RA. Evaluation of a yoga based regimen for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands. J Rheumatol 1994; 21(12):2341-2343.19.OConnor D, Marshall S, & Massy-Westropp N. Non-surgical treatment (other than steroid injection) for carpel tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003; (1): CD003219.20.Trost SG, Sallis JF, Pate RR, Freedson PS, Taylor WC, Dowda M. Evaluating a model of parental influence on youth physical activity. Am J Prev Med 2003; 25(4):277-282.21.Ryan RM, Frederick CM, Lepes D, Rubio N, Sheldon KM. Intrinsic motivation and exercise adherence. International Journal of Sports Psychology 1997; 28(4):335-354.22.Dishman R. Determinants of participation in physical activity. In: Bouchard C, Shepard R, Stephens T, Sutton J, McPherson B, editors. Exercise, Fitness, and Health. Champaign : Human Kinetics, 1990: 75-102.23.Scott AH. Wellness works: community service health promotion groups led by occupational therapy students. Am J Occup Ther. 1999; 53(6): 566-74. About the Author
I am a Doctor, doing my Ph.D.in Yoga. My topic of interest is to conduct Yoga Retreat, take class for Yoga Teacher and Medical professionals for in depth Research findings, and also Interest to conduct research in various field of yoga, both experimental and theoretical. I have been Traveling to all EUROPIAN countries.My contact: [email protected] web page:http://www.geocities.com/manojrieneke/Research.html

The Difference Between Arthritis and Rheumatism

The Difference Between Arthritis and Rheumatism
Leong Y.H..M.D

‘Rheumatism’ is a traditional and non-specific term used in the East and West to refer to a variety of conditions affecting the bones, joints, skin, heart, kidneys, lungs. This term is rapidly falling out of favour in the West today because modern medical science has discovered that most of these conditions have different aetiologies (causes) requiring very different treatments.
You can say that it’s a word mainly used in Chinese (& traditional) societies; it’s also used by a minority of Westerners into homeopathic and alternative medicine. The only common characteristics among these conditions are: 1) they cause long-term chronic pain, and 2) they are very difficult to treat.
‘Arthritis’ is a broad term refers to inflammation of the joints, but doesn’t say anything about the cause. Includes conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, infective arthritis, gouty arthritis, etc.
Generally, I’d divide arthritis into 2 big groups:
1) Osteoarthritis (OA)
This is primarily a ‘wear and tear’ condition affecting older people. Arises from overuse (e.g. marathon runners), previous injuries (football players), overweight, heredity. A lot of older Asian women get OA of the knees while the Americans and Europeans get it in the hips. The pain is more mechanical than inflammatory. So you get pain in the later part of the day after a lot of walking and climbing stairs.
Because it’s mainly a mechanical problem, treatment with painkillers is only a temporary solution. Long-term lifestyle changes are more important – reduce weight, mobility and muscle-strengthening exercises, reduce all kinds of weight-bearing activities (walking, jumping, running, carrying heavy objects). In severe cases, surgery may be warranted.

2) Inflammatory (‘Rheumatic’) Arthritis
This group comprises the various types of arthritis which are mainly inflammatory , not mechanical, in nature. They usually result from an auto-immune condition, which causes the body’s immune system to go haywire and attack the joints and other parts of the body. E.g. rheumatoid arthritis (RA), SLE (skin, kidneys, joints, brain), psoriasis (skin, joints), ankylosing spondylitis (back, heart), gout (joints, skin, kidneys), rheumatic heart disease/fever (joints, heart, skin). All these conditions require different forms of treatment.
I’ll talk a bit about RA, the commonest condition in this group. Unlike OA, RA can occur at any age and is usually hereditary (we now have a test for the RA factor in the blood). Pain is usually in the early morning, worse when it’s cold, and gets better with activity and use. That means an RA sufferer suffers from morning stiffness and pain, but gets better in the afternoon when it’s warmer and when he has moved around a bit.
Treatment, unlike OA, is mainly through drugs – painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids, cytotoxic drugs like sulfasalazine and MTX. In Asia, treatment is mainly through accupuncture, medicated plasters and ointments. With the vast arsenals of drugs and non-drugs alternative treatments available today, RA can be controlled very well and the sufferer can actually lead a very active life. Many OA sufferers on the other hand may eventually require surgery since we don’t have very effective drugs for OA. About the Author
Dr Leong Y.H is a western trained medical doctor with a keen interest in Oriental medical treatment. He contribute articles to http://www.quick-pain-relief.com and http://www.chinese-culture.net. You may distribute this article as long as mention is made of the author and the website.

The Condition and more Symptoms of Male Menopause

The condition and the symptoms of male menopause are comparable to the ones women experience and can sometimes be as worse. However male menopause does not affect all men, at least not with the same inclusion. Only some of the men between the age of forty and fifty can experience the condition and most of the symptoms of male menopause.

All the changes that occur in every man during the male menopausal period can affect every aspect of their lives. Male menopause is recognized as a physical condition and manifests in personal, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions.

Men also experience difficulties in hormonal fluctuations that affect their sexuality, mood, and personality like women. It is only one of the manifestations of the aging process of a man, where changes comes and make the person better out of it.

All men going through male menopausal can experience hormonal changes that greatly affect their lives. The levels of hormones will lower at their mid-life and may have changes which are usually associated with male menopausal. It is important to mark that every man has a unique personality and their individual levels of hormonal loss may vary widely. They have different outlook in life and strategies of living with satisfaction.

If the level of hormones lowers, it can be the cause to the decrease in sex drive and the general well being of their health. The occurrence of these things will also lead to the increase of depression and weight gain and absolutely will change the day to day living as compared to their lives before the onset of male menopause.

During the menopausal period, some men can experience problems with regards to impotence. Wherein it is the constant inability to achieve and maintain an erection that is enough to have a satisfactory sexual performance. And because of impotency, men are having lowered sexual desires.

How can a man recognize that he is going through that certain stage in life, the menopausal period? There are some symptoms to be aware of. Some are physical, some are psychological, and some are sexual. The following are the symptoms that a male is going through a male menopausal period.

Physical symptoms of male menopause include:

Recovery from injuries and illness takes longer
Less endurance for physical activity
Gaining weight
Difficulty reading small print
Loss or thinning of hair
Sleep disturbances
Low libido
Lack of energy

Psychological symptoms of male menopause include:

Irritability
Hesitancy or difficulty in making decisions
Worry and fear for life
Depression
Having low self-esteem, self-confidence and joy
Loss of purpose and direction in life
Feeling alone, unattractive, and unloved
Lack of memory and complexity in concentrating
Mood swings

Sexual symptoms of male menopause include:

Decreased sex drive
Fear of sexual impotency
More relationship problems and fights occurs with regards to sex, love, and intimacy
Incapacity to erect during intimacy
Increased of attraction to a much younger opposite sex

All the symptoms that a male can experience during the male menopausal period can be treated. Although men have been suffering from either physical, emotional or sexual symptoms of male menopause, you need to control it not through attempting self-diagnosis but by talking to a doctor, this will lead to being better informed and getting the proper treatment to alleviate the symptoms of the condition.

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active And Independent
Richard Clement

Arthritis pain can be frustrating.Nagging and crippling
arthritis pain can continue day after day. How much happier
would you be if you could stop your arthritis pain right now and
feel great all day? Knowing the nature of the disease can really
bring you the right answers.

What is arthritis ?

Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions.
The word arthritis means “joint inflammation”. When joints are
inflamed, it causes pain and usually also limits movement of the
joints that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain has a
large impact on their life. Arthritis is second only to heart
disease as a cause of work disability. Arthritis limits everyday
activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than
16 million Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000
hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Arthritis is
not just an old person’s disease. Nearly two-thirds of people
with arthritis are younger than 65 years including nearly
300,000 children. Arthritis affects children and people of all
racial and ethnic groups but is more common among women and
older adults. The disease can affect different parts of the
body. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the
joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune
system activity. RA is one of the most serious and disabling
types, affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to
three times more common in women than in men and generally
strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body
are usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of RA differ
from person to person but can generally include:

Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling.

Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning
or after a long rest.

Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to
the hand .

Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not
feeling well . Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of
arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the
cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint
deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins
to rub against bone. OA commonly affects the joints of the
fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more common
in older people because they have been using their joints
longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or
simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse.
Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk
because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that
require the same movement over and over are also at risk.
Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in the joint
later on. Excess weight can accelerate arthritis in the knees,
hips and spine. The most common symptom of Osteoarthritis is
pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain
is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling,
warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of OA may
greatly vary. Some patients can be debilitated by their
symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few
symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints
apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. These 2
forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on
the body, yet they often share a common symptom—persistent
joint pain.

What are the causes of arthritis ? Primary OA is mostly
related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage
increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates.
Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and
inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling.
Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming
tiny crevasses. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate
new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Sometimes
osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a
young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then,
years after the knee has apparently healed, he might get
arthritis in his knee joint. RA is an autoimmune disease. This
means the body’s natural immune system does not operate as it
should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of
inflammation and joint damage. RA is a type of chronic arthritis
that occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands,
wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from other
types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most frequently
in the 30-50 age group, although can start at any age. It is
strongly associated with the HLA marker DR4 – hence Family
history is an important risk factor. The disease affects
Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio. Other conditions can also cause
arthritis. Some include:

Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually
affects the big toe.

Lupus , in which the body’s defense system can harm the
joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.

Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of the liver can cause
arthritis.

What can you do about it ?

Some people may worry that arthritis means they won’t be able to
work or take care of their children and their family. Others
think that you just have to accept things like arthritis. While
there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much can be done today to
reduce pain and boost joint function. Learning how to manage
pain over the long term is essential to maintaining a good
quality of life. There are things you can do to keep the damage
from getting worse. They might also make you feel better.Here
are some simple things to do:

Lose weight if you’re overweight

Exercise regularly for short periods. Going for a walk every
day will help, too.

Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.

Avoid lifting heavy things.

Don’t pull on objects to move them-push them instead

Use heat or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

The pain and disability that accompany arthritis can be
decreased through early diagnosis and appropriate management.So
if you have persistent symptoms lasting more than several days –
go see your doctor. The doctor will examine you and may take x
rays (pictures) of your bones or joints to decide if you have
arthritis and what kind you have.

After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or
she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The
doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will help
with the pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The good news is
that now there is a way to stop your pain with a medication .
Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID),
specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling
(inflammation). It represents a huge breakthrough in the
treatment of pain, inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis.
Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by
inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike
the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a
similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective
effect on the lining of the stomach.Celebrex doesn’t cause the
stomach bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might.

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information about coping with arthritis burden.

About the author:
Richard Clement is an online publisher dedicated in helping
online users getting appropriate and effective medical care.
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