Yoga as an intervention to manage multiple sclerosis symptoms

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, demyelinating, inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS) which is characterized by spasticity, fatigue, depression, anxiety, bowel and bladder dysfunction, impaired mobility, cognitive impairment etc. and affects approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. Disease modifying therapies for MS which help in preventing accumulation of lesions in white matter of CNS are costly and have significant adverse effects. Therefore, patients with MS are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and Yoga is one of the most popular form of CAM which is being used immensely to reduce or overcome the symptoms of MS. In the current review attempted to present the potential impact of yoga practices on reducing MS related symptoms.