Exploring pain status and flexibility in fibromyalgia patients: Effect of 20 sessions of yoga therapy

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common neurological chronic health problem that causes widespread pain and tenderness (sensitivity to touch) throughout the body. Most often, people with this chronic illness complain of fatigue and sleep deprivation. Besides psychosomatic illness, neurological problems such as depression, anxiety, and memory loss are also reported by patients. Pain, flexibility, and range of motion in 18 FM patients were assessed before and after 20 sessions of yoga therapy. Subjective assessment of pain was done using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain catastrophising scale scores. Tender points were also localised. Objective assessment of pain was done using quantitative sensory testing of the left and right shoulder regions. Flexibility and range of motion were assessed using Schober’s and Sit and Reach tests, respectively, before and after yogic intervention. Mean VAS score, age, and body mass index of patients at baseline were 7.05 ± 0.8, age 35.1 ± 8.9 Kg/m2, and 27.8 ± 2.9 kg/m2, respectively. VAS score (3.3 ± 1.3, P < 0.05) was significantly reduced after the intervention; pain catastrophisation was also reduced in the patients after the therapy. Flexibility (Schober’s test scores) and range of motion (Sit and Reach test scores) significantly increased after 20 sessions of regular yoga therapy. Pressure pain threshold at the left shoulder and pressure pain tolerance at the right shoulder were significantly increased after the intervention (P < 0.05). Twenty sessions of yoga therapy can relieve pain and improve the flexibility and range of motion of FM patients.