https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27797669

Good evening everyone. Isn't it dark now that the clocks have gone back? Feels all cosy and Autumnal!

Here is a new pilot study about the benefits of yoga for abnormal pain processing in fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) condition that can cause widespread pain and tenderness over much of the body. It's more common than many people think in fact; up to 1 person in every 25 may be affected. In the past, other terms were used to describe the condition, including muscular rheumatism and fibrositis. The condition may even have been misdiagnosed as degenerative joint disease. It is know known that fibromyalgia isn't linked to inflammatory or degenerative arthritis, even though the symptoms may sometimes be very similar.

In this new pilot study linked below, pilot data was collected from 7 female fibromyalgia patients to determine if initial evidence indicates that mindful yoga can modulate the abnormal pain processing that characterizes fibromyalgia. Pre- and post-treatment data were obtained on quantitative sensory tests and measures of symptoms, functional deficits, and coping abilities. Separation test analyses indicated significant improvements in heat pain tolerance, pressure pain threshold, and heat pain after-sensations at post-treatment. Fibromyalgia symptoms and functional deficits also improved significantly, including physical tests of strength and balance, and pain coping strategies.

These are very exciting findings that will, no doubt, offer hope to fibromyalgia sufferers and their families. This pilot should hopefully spur further investigation into the effect of mindful yoga on neurobiological pain processing. A fabulous prospect :)