Yoga for Parkinsons
About yoga for Parkinsons
Parkinson's brings many challenges. Some of them are physical – tremors, muscle stiffness, a stooped posture. Other challenges include stress, depression, and impairment of cognitive function.
Clinical studies suggest yoga contributes improvements on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), to reduce tremors and lower blood pressure.
Clinical studies suggest yoga practitioners with Parkinson’s have recorded modest improvements in functional mobility, balance, and lower limb strength. They have also recorded improved upper and lower body flexibility, quality of sleep, and improved mood. These results are what can make yoga a useful supplement in Parkinson's treatment.
What the clinical studies say
Yoga
- Improved mood
- Improved sleep quality
- Improved upper and lower body flexibility
- Improvement in average forced vital capacity
- Lowers blood pressure
- Modest improvements in balance
- Modest improvements in functional mobility
- Modest improvements in lower-limb strength
- Significant improvement in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
- Symptom changes including immediate tremor reduction
