YOGA IN MEDICINE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF YOGA FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Objective: Literature reports growing physical and psychological disorders affecting health professionals and dentists. This study reviews the effect of yoga therapy on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), mainly towards health professionals and dentists. Methods: Articles search has been performed in Web of Sciences, Scopus and PubMed databases using “Yoga” in association with the following keywords: Pain, Neck, Headache, Hand, Wrist, Low back, Hip, Musculoskeletal disorders, Upper musculoskeletal disorders, Arthritis, Inflammation, Occupational health, Preventive medicine, Dental professionals, Dental practice. Results: A total of 835 articles were screened. Papers not in English language (N=15), or not indexed (N=177), or when only the abstract was available (N=183), or not reporting the detailed Yoga protocol (duration, week frequency, Asana or Pranayama), or reporting non-Yoga-derived protocols (N=370), or describing incomplete results (N=20) were excluded. A total of 70 studies were eligible for the inclusion in the study. Of these, 92% (65/70) were randomized clinical trials and included at least one control group, and 21% (15/70) did not report Asanas name. Self-reported data (questionnaires on pain, quality of life, disability, psychological health, perceived stress, musculoskeletal discomfort) were included in 78% of the studies while measured data (mobility, stiffness, muscle tone, disc degeneration, inflammatory markers, nerve conduction, medication intake) were included in 63% of the trials. Yoga therapy showed significant improvements on Pain-related MSD (9/13 studies, 69%), Head and Neck Pain/migraine (7/7, 100%), Shoulder MSD or upper-crossed syndromes (6/7, 85%), Hand and Wrist pathologies (4/9, 44%), Low-back MSD and Disc herniation (7/9, 78%), Arthritis/inflammation (8/9, 89%), and Preventive medicine/occupational health problems/public health (6/8, 75%), musculoskeletal disorders-related to dental practice (5/7, 71%), musculoskeletal disorders-related to health professionals (3/5, 60%). Conclusions: This systematic review supports the inclusion of yoga as a holistic approach for MSD. Yoga reduced pain intensity, improved functional outcomes, and enhanced overall well-being. Yoga represents a powerful tool for the prevention and treatment of MSD and an extraordinary path for the self-care of dental professionals, healthcare providers and sitting job workers, suffering from occupational biomechanical stresses and awkward postures.