Yoga for Caregivers of Patients Suffering from Chronic Diseases such as Cancers and Neurological Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

To review the role of Yoga in improving the psychological and physical aspects of caregivers of patients with chronic conditions such as neurological disabilities and cancer. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane according to the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials exploring the role of Yoga for caregivers were included; case series, case reports, conference presentations, and non-English literature were excluded. Eight studies involving 252 participants were included in this systematic review. Five studies reported psychological outcomes, of which three reported significance. Quality of life was reported to improve in one study, while other studies reported mixed results. Physical outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in two studies. Most of the included studies were pilot studies with small sample sizes and with methodological limitations. This systematic review findings has shown that, Yoga has a potential role in improving the physical and psychological well-being of caregivers, particularly in neurorehabilitation and cancer care settings. Due to the heterogenicity in interventions and reported outcomes, a definitive conclusion cannot be made. Further research should focus on large well-designed trials with different yoga modules, and standardized outcomes should support the role of integrating yoga in a holistic approach to treat these patients.