Since the beginning of time, humanity has been searching for ways to relieve their pain, get physically fit, and find peace. For which, many techniques have been developed in many cultures of the world, and yoga stands out among them all. Hence, there has been various practices and also scientific medical research on yoga and benefits health.
From simple limb rotation to complicated and strenuous poses, yoga has been a perfect combination of physical flexibility and harmony of the mind. Moreover, this particular technique developed by ancient sages has been a subject of great interest even among scientists. No wonder that many types of research on yoga have been done to find out the actual science behind the process of uplifting human health.
List of Best Medical Research on Yoga
So, here are a few of those fascinating and praiseworthy researches that have beautifully proven the benefits of yoga on the health of the people all across the globe.
1. Effects of Yoga on Stress and Inflammatory Factors In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain
This study was a non- randomized controlled trial which was done by Hye Kyung Cho, Woongjoon Moon, and Jaehee Kim of Korea on premenopausal women who were under chronic lower back pain. This research was based on the effects that yoga has mostly on function, stress level, and inflammatory factors of the chronic lower back pain of those women after 12 weeks yoga program.
The results were mind-blowing as, it showed that the cortisol level and the TNF –alpha had decreased notably; similarly, back flexibility had improved remarkably. However, the CRP did not alter, but this fascinating research did show, with no doubt, that yoga could bring a severe positive result on the health of people.
Source: European Journal of Integrative Medicine (Volume 7, Issue 2, April 2015, Pages 118-123)
2. Perceived Mechanisms of Change In Therapeutic Yoga Targeting Psychological Distress
This study was a qualitative study which was conducted by Rebecca Harvey, Panoraia Andriopoulou, Sarah Grogan on six yoga teachers who had specific training and experience in teaching yoga. These teachers were selected for the study based on one – one interview and all of them had one key goal in stock, to help people deal with their psychological anxiety.
Additionally, the research sited that all these teachers had developed four key themes (Awareness, Choice, Relationships, and Tailoring) with totally new students in just a week, and students showed no sign of any psychological anxiety of any kind during the communication and also a complete, genuine friendship with the teachers.
Source: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
3. Associations of Yoga Practice, Health Status, and Health Behavior Among Yoga Practitioners In Germany
This study was a cross-sectional online survey done in Germany, but not limited only to the Germans. It is no surprise that yoga practitioners have a healthy lifestyle but the good thing about yoga, shown by the research, is that yoga practitioners did not only have a good physique. Also, they were very smart mentally and gave an account of having markable progress in most of the days.
Among all the yoga practiced around the globe, in this study, people practiced one of the three yogas: Ashtanga yoga (15.7%), Hatha yoga (14.2%), and Sivananda yoga (22.4%); however, the study reveals that the practitioners had been practicing yoga for about ten years.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Volume 42, February 2019, Pages 19-26)
4. Effectiveness of Yoga In Eating Disorders
A case of 38 years female was presented in this research who was suffering from the various psychosomatic-psychiatric disease (including anorexia nervosa). Sadly, she also had a history of sexual abuse in childhood, plus diuretics and thyroid hormone abuse. Since 2003, she had been admitted for a few weeks and discharged multiple times.
However, once the yoga class was initiated in the very hospital where she was accepted, and she went for those classes regularly. Amazingly, she started caring for her body and later replied that she had found the connection with her soul and felt lighter and happier with herself than ever before.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Volume 42, February 2019, Pages 145-148)
5. Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Yoga In the Treatment of Eating Disorders
This study was a pilot project in which comparisons were made between the groups of people receiving outpatient care and the other group receiving yoga therapy and outpatient care. The survey was conducted in 50 girls and four boys (aged 11-21) who had some form of anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and other eating disorders.
The results were fascinating – those who had taken the yoga classes improved their eating habits towards the end, switching on to a healthier diet with fruits. However, the other group with only outpatient care improved their eating habits in the beginning and after feeling demotivated switched to their original feeding pattern.
Source:Â Journal of Adolescent Health (Volume 46, Issue 4, April 2010, Pages 346-351)
6. Modern Postural Yoga as a Mental Health Promoting Tool
This study was compilation research collected from 14 surveys which analyzed the effects of yoga on body posture and mental health. Most of the investigations showed that after people practiced to do yoga, they gained more calmness and peace. Moreover, satisfaction with life, self-compassion, and empathy were the critical benefits seen from practicing yoga.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (Volume 31, May 2018, Pages 248-255)
7. The Use of Medical Yoga for Adolescent Mental Health
In this study, a case of 14 years old girl was taken into consideration. She had developed a severe migraine and was in pre menarche phase. However, the mood swings and severe headache could be accounted for the hormonally changes in her body. Similarly, she had also been given different medication to help her cope with the significant migraine attacks like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, and prochlorperazine.
Nevertheless, nothing seemed to show any positive outcome, so she was transferred to Pediatric Medical Yoga and Integrative Health Clinic from the Pediatric Neurology service. Which was for further evaluation and management of chronic migraine headaches with episodic transient ischemic events, and generalized anxiety disorder. The results were mind-blowing, as with few of the asanas and the breathing technique, she recovered quickly and was able to do her regular tasks very easily only in a matter of few weeks.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Volume 43, April 2019, Pages 60-65)
8. Yoga Research Review
This article is a review on researches that had been done about yoga for the last couple of years. Randomized control trial, meta-analysis, and systemic reviews had been taken into consideration in this article. Honestly speaking, this article still puts a question mark on the effectiveness of yoga practice in clinical medicine and saying that more researches need to be done.
However, it also clearly mentions that as yoga is a cost-effective method to balance one’s body, it can be widely used for the benefit of every person.
Source: Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (Volume 24, August 2016, Pages 145-161)
9. Evidence-Based Effects of Yoga In Neurological Disorders
After review of over 700 articles published from 1963 to 14 December 2016 on the effectiveness of yoga in various neurological disorder- this articles concludes by saying that yoga gave specific relief to people and it was no surprise that many of the yoga practitioners were found to be in a state of contentment and sensed speedy recovery.
Source: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience (Volume 43, September 2017, Pages 61-67)
10. Incorporating Yoga Into an Intense Physical Therapy Program in Someone With Parkinson’s Disease
This survey was a case study done on a participant who was diagnosed as a suffer from Parkinsonism. The participant had to do intense one and a half-hour of yoga (Phase A) and a milder yoga for 12 weeks (Phase B). After the completion, his Parkinsonian scale was analyzed, and it was found out that score on the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire improved 16 points while his rating on the High-Level Mobility Assessment tool improved 11 points.
Similarly, in about 29 months, he was finally able to go for his regular job. This research proved that even in critical cases, yoga could do wonders.
Source: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (Volume 17, Issue 4, October 2013, Pages 408-417)
In Conclusion
Furthermore, yoga was and still is one of the most practical and cost-effective techniques that could transform anyone’s life for sure, and these researches show the same with no doubts. So, if you are reading this article and have doubts about your health issues, then I indeed suggest you start doing some yoga because few rounds of stretching postures and breathing patterns are always better than a chemical dose of costly medication.
Content Source: Elsevier
