Yoga and aquatic exercise may reduce certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) such as fatigue, depression and paresthesia, a new study suggests.
MS is a chronic progressive auto-immune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the nervous tissue, potentially resulting in movement disorders.
Other typical symptoms of MS include physical and mental fatigue as well as faintness, depression and paresthesia such as pins and needles, itchiness and numbness, researchers said.
For the study, researchers from University of Basel in Switzerland and Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in Iran conducted a random trial and showed that the symptoms significantly improved after an eight-week programme of yoga and aquatic exercise.
In comparison to the control group, fatigue, depression and paresthesia were significantly reduced in patients who took part in a three-times weekly training programme, researchers said.
In the non-exercising group, the likelihood of moderate to severe depression was 35-fold higher than in the groups who had practiced yoga or aquatic exercise, they said.
As many as 54 women with MS who had an average age of 34 were assigned to one of three groups - yoga, aquatic exercise or no exercise, researchers said.
Before and after the trial, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire about their symptoms.
All patients continued with their existing treatment, including any medication taken to regulate the immune system.
"Exercise training programmes should be considered in the future as possible complements to standard MS treatments," said researchers.
