Yoga for multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cramer, H; Lauche, R; Azizi, H; Dobos, G; Langhorst, J

Yoga for multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cramer, H

Lauche, R

Azizi, H Dobos, G Langhorst, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS ONE, 2014, 9 (11)
Issue Date:: 2014-11-12

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cramer, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3640-8046	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lauche, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4171-7935	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Azizi, H	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dobos, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Langhorst, J	en_US
dc.date.available	2014-09-23	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-11-12	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS ONE, 2014, 9 (11)	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/41527
dc.description.abstract	© 2014 Cramer et al. While yoga seems to be effective in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, the evidence of efficacy in multiple sclerosis remains unclear. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the available data on efficacy and safety of yoga in patients with multiple sclerosis. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, CAM-Quest, CAMbase, and IndMED were searched through March 2014. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for patients with multiple sclerosis were included if they assessed health-related quality of life, fatigue, and/or mobility. Mood, cognitive function, and safety were defined as secondary outcome measures. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Seven RCTs with a total of 670 patients were included. Evidence for short-term effects of yoga compared to usual care were found for fatigue (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 20.52; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 21.02 to 20.02; p = 0.04; heterogeneity: I2 = 60%; Chi2 = 7.43; p = 0.06) and mood (SMD = 20.55; 95%CI = 20.96 to 20.13; p = 0.01; heterogeneity: I2 = 0%; Chi2 = 1.25; p = 0.53), but not for health-related quality of life, muscle function, or cognitive function. The effects on fatigue and mood were not robust against bias. No short-term or longer term effects of yoga compared to exercise were found. Yoga was not associated with serious adverse events. In conclusion, since no methodological sound evidence was found, no recommendation can be made regarding yoga as a routine intervention for patients with multiple sclerosis. Yoga might be considered a treatment option for patients who are not adherent to recommended exercise regimens.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS ONE	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0112414	en_US
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Multiple Sclerosis	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Fatigue	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Treatment Outcome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Yoga	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Affect	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cognition	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quality of Life	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic	en_US
dc.title	Yoga for multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	9	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	11	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	9	en_US

Abstract:

© 2014 Cramer et al. While yoga seems to be effective in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, the evidence of efficacy in multiple sclerosis remains unclear. The aim of this review was to systematically assess and meta-analyze the available data on efficacy and safety of yoga in patients with multiple sclerosis. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, CAM-Quest, CAMbase, and IndMED were searched through March 2014. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga for patients with multiple sclerosis were included if they assessed health-related quality of life, fatigue, and/or mobility. Mood, cognitive function, and safety were defined as secondary outcome measures. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Seven RCTs with a total of 670 patients were included. Evidence for short-term effects of yoga compared to usual care were found for fatigue (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 20.52; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 21.02 to 20.02; p = 0.04; heterogeneity: I2 = 60%; Chi2 = 7.43; p = 0.06) and mood (SMD = 20.55; 95%CI = 20.96 to 20.13; p = 0.01; heterogeneity: I2 = 0%; Chi2 = 1.25; p = 0.53), but not for health-related quality of life, muscle function, or cognitive function. The effects on fatigue and mood were not robust against bias. No short-term or longer term effects of yoga compared to exercise were found. Yoga was not associated with serious adverse events. In conclusion, since no methodological sound evidence was found, no recommendation can be made regarding yoga as a routine intervention for patients with multiple sclerosis. Yoga might be considered a treatment option for patients who are not adherent to recommended exercise regimens.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/41527