title: Yoga Training Has Positive Effects on Postural Balance and Its Influence on Activities of Daily Living in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a little evidence about the influence of yoga as a complementary therapy for postural balance and its influence on activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of a six-month yoga program on postural balance and subjective impact of postural balance impairment on activities of daily living in people with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protocol developed at the Adaptive Physical Activity Study Department, College of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 (11 women) yoga naive people with MS randomly divided into two groups as follows: Control (C-waiting list, n = 6) and Yoga (Y-Yoga training, n = 6).
  
  
  METHODS
  Yoga group practiced postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation on weekly 60-min classes for a six-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following evaluations were performed at study entry (baseline), and after six months (six months): Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and self-reported postural balance quality and influence of postural balance on activities of daily living.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in BBS score from baseline to six months only in the Yoga group, especially in subjects with higher EDSS score, with increased quality of self-reported postural balance, and decreased influence of postural balance impairment on activities of daily living. In conclusion, a six-month yoga training is beneficial for people with MS, since it improves postural balance and decreases the influence of postural balance impairment on activities of daily living. A greater sample size is necessary to increase generalization, but it seems that yoga could be included as a feasible complementary therapy for people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Physical Activity Study Departments, College of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Av. Érico Veríssimo, 701, Cidade Universitária "Zeferino Vaz," Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP 13083-851, Brazil. Electronic address: gersonyoga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gerson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Physical Activity Study Departments, College of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Av. Érico Veríssimo, 701, Cidade Universitária "Zeferino Vaz," Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria da Consolação Cunha Gomes Fernandes
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Adaptive Physical Activity Study Departments, College of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Av. Érico Veríssimo, 701, Cidade Universitária "Zeferino Vaz," Barão Geraldo, Campinas, SP 13083-851, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jane Domingues
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: de Faria Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Sports Center, University of São Paulo (CEPE-USP), Praça 2, Prof. Rubião Meira, 61, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Rojo
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Sports Center, University of São Paulo (CEPE-USP), Praça 2, Prof. Rubião Meira, 61, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo Forghieri
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Santaella
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015013:Yoga
keywords: hatha yoga; meditation; multiple sclerosis; postural balance; pranayama