Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Effect of Naturopathy and Yoga Intervention for One Year on Improvement of Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rukamani Nair¹, Ranjna Chawla², Gaurav Thakur³, Aparna⁴, Vinod kumar Gupta⁵

¹Naturopathy Expert, Bapu Nature Cure Hospital & Yogashram, Gandhi Nidhi, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi-91

²Senior Biochemist, Department of Biochemistry, Room no. 411, Academic Block, GIPMER,

JLN Marg, New Delhi 110002

³Research Associate, Bapu Nature Cure Hospital & Yogashram, Gandhi Nidhi, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi-91 (India)

⁴Trainee, Department of Biochemistry, Room no. 411, Academic Block, GIPMER,

JLN Marg, New Delhi 110002

⁵Director Professor & Head, Department of Biochemistry, Room no. 411, Academic Block

GIPMER, JLN Marg, New Delhi 110002

Abstract

Aims: To find out the effect of naturopathy (massage, hot and cold fomentation applications) and yoga intervention for one year in improvement of joint movement and disability by measuring range of joint motion (ROM), Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The goal of treatment was to study the regression of symptoms like joint pain, swelling, visible deformity and muscle weakness

Methods: Total of seventy five rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled and divided in two groups. Group 1 included 39 patients taking Allopathic medication. Group 2 included 36 patients taking naturopathy and yoga along with alopathic medication. Range of joint movement in shoulder, elbow, wrist, MCP, hip, knee, ankle, PIP was assessed bilaterally in terms of degree. Disability was assessed using HAQ, a self‐reporting method (questionnaire) and an observational method.

Results and Conclusions: Restricted joint mobility appears to be an important determinant of disability in patients with RA. The patients, after naturopathy and yoga, experienced improvement in ROM for many joints of hand, shoulder, knee and hip, HAQ and RA factor. The study concluded that massage therapy, hot and cold fomentation along with yoga therapy, when used in conjunction with other prescribed treatments, can have a positive systemic effect on ROM, HAQ and RA factor and thus in getting symptomatic remission and in the effective management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Keywords:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Range of motion (ROM), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Rheumatoid factor (RF)