By According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, endometriosis is a condition that affects millions of women around the world. Usually happening during the reproductive years, these women have tissue that attaches to their organs in the pelvis and begins to grow. So, this leads to chronic pain, as well as, infertility issues (1). Fortunately, researchers are pointing that using Hatha yoga helps reduce chronic pain from endometriosis is an effective treatment tool that can be use to help find some pain relief.
Moreover, in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers shared the findings from their study involving 40 women with chronic pain from endometriosis (2). The group was split into two, with half engaging in a yoga program, and the other half being used as the control group. The women evaluated at the start and after the program completed. The group engaging in yoga took part in two weekly scheduled. Hatha yoga sessions that were 90 minutes in length each. In addition, they did this for a period of eight weeks.
They found that women engaged in the Hatha yoga helps reduce chronic pain. Moreover, this treatment program had lessen the degree of daily pain. In addition, women having a reduction in chronic pelvic pain from doing yoga and experienced improvement in their quality of life. Another reason, this brings hope to women suffering from chronic pain who would like another tool in their chest to help reducing the pain.
Hatha yoga is commonly practiced in the U.S. as reported by The National Institutes of Health (NIH). It emphasis on breathing exercises, postures, and meditation. They found that it is a low impact and safe for people practicing it under a well-trained instructor. The NIH reports that hatha yoga may help reduce pain and improve function in chronic low-back pain (3).
Furthermore, those suffering chronic pain from endometriosis, as well as, low-back pain may give Hatha yoga a try. Many city parks departments, health clubs and community centers offer the classes. Besides evaluating, the class information to determine which type of yoga is best. And a well-trained instructor is teaching it. Giving this practice, an ancient Indian origins, a try for eight weeks may reduce the chronic pain. As well as, it will improve quality of life and help relieving depression and anxiety.
In short, the more tools that those with chronic pain have to turn to, the better off they will be. The various treatment tools and options give them ability to choose, on which they want to engage in and, be part of their life. Fortunately, Hatha yoga is one more effective treatment tool for those suffering chronic pain from endometriosis.
Sources:
- American Society of Reproductive Medicine. https://www.asrm.org/BOOKLET_Endometriosis/
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The Practice of Hatha Yoga for the Treatment of Pain Associated with Endometriosis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27869485
- National Institutes of Health. Yoga: In Depth. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm
