Yoga can help in fight against multiple sclerosis, study says

• "I think physical activity by itself is probably beneficial for mental and physical well-being," explained Barry Oken, MD, a neurologist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and the study's lead investigator, in an interview.
• Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
• The investigators in this first randomized, controlled trial of yoga in people with MS found that while the intervention eased tiredness, it didn't have an effect on alertness, attention, or other measures of cognitive function.
• The small trial enrolled nearly 60 people with clinically definite MS who were assigned at random to one of three treatment groups: a weekly yoga class along with home practice; a weekly exercise class without yoga, but with a stationary bicycle along with home exercise; or a "control" group that was added to a waiting list with no intervention given.
• None of the patients experienced any adverse symptoms related to the interventions.
• In a trial released late last year, researchers found that weight training may be beneficial for people with the disease.4 The study, conducted by doctors at the University of Florida, found that eight weeks of supervised resistance training gave MS patients stronger muscles, better walking ability, and left them were fewer episodes of fatigue and disability.
• Earlier last year, researchers at Eastern Kentucky University tested whether a 2-month-long program of home-based resistance exercise could improve balance, power, and mobility in a group of people with MS.5 Nearly 40 people took part in the study, which found that compared to a group of people who maintained only their normal level of physical activity, those who underwent resistance training found the intervention significantly improved leg power in the individuals, though it had no effect on balance and mobility.