Is Yoga useful in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Relief or Treatment?
Yoga practices are found to be very beneficial in multiple sclerosis (MS) relief and treatment. Yoga helps in multiple sclerosis treatment by strengthening nervous system and improving mental alertness. Yoga for multiple sclerosis is a natural treatment that is gaining more popularity these days. Yoga for multiple sclerosis has many physical, emotional and mental benefits that include:
- Improved memory and concentration
- Increased strength
- Increased flexibility
- Release of muscular tension
- Reduced mental fatigue
- Increased coordination and balance
- Improved walking
- Improved bladder functions
- Improved blood circulation
- Increased body awareness
- Increased energy levels
- Reduced muscle spasms
- Decreased anxiety and depression
People with multiple sclerosis often find it difficult to concentrate on certain things. But practicing yoga for multiple sclerosis help them in improving concentration and focusing on different movements involved. The breathing exercise involved in yoga for multiple sclerosis relaxes the muscles and calms the body.
Muscle weakness and loss of balance are most commonly seen in the people with multiple sclerosis. Yoga for multiple sclerosis helps in muscle strengthening and improving balance. Yoga for multiple sclerosis involves different movements that strengthens muscles by keeping you still for certain time. And yoga positions like Tadasana and Virabhadrasana help in improving physical balance.
Fatigue and heat sensitivity are the common multiple sclerosis symptoms seen in most of the people with multiple sclerosis. Breathing techniques and restorative yoga postures calms nervous system and cools the body. Some of the breathing techniques and stretching exercises involved in yoga for multiple sclerosis, improves muscle tone, increases flexibility and balance.
Multiple sclerosis occurs in four different patterns. For each of the pattern different yoga positions are practiced. Given below are different multiple sclerosis patterns and the yoga positions practiced for that patterns.
Yoga for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Pattern
Pranayama help a lot in reducing the symptoms caused due to relapsing-remitting forms of multiple sclerosis. Practicing pranayamas like Shitali, Pratiloma Ujjayi and Nadi Sodhana help in reducing flare-ups. Along with pranayama, meditation also helps in reduction of symptoms.
Yoga for Primary and Secondary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Pattern
The most common symptoms seen in people with secondary-progressive forms of multiple sclerosis include blurred vision, slurred speech and muscle weakness. Yoga positions Yoga mudra, Matsyasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Janu Sirsasana, Paschinmottanasa, Padottanasana and Uttanasana help in reducing some of these symptoms.
Yoga for Progressive-Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Pattern
For relieving the symptoms caused by progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis breathing exercises (pranayama) like Anuloma viloma and Ujjayi pranayama are practiced. Along with this, relaxing exercises like hand and shoulder movement, legs movement is also practiced.
Thus practicing different yoga positions may definitely help you in easing some of the multiple sclerosis symptoms. Yoga for multiple sclerosis is becoming more popular and is preferred to other multiple sclerosis treatment since it doesn't cause any side effects, which the other treatments can cause.