Article

OBJECTIVE: To study the add-on effects of pranayama and meditation in
rehabilitation of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). PATIENTS AND
METHOD: This randomized control pilot study was conducted in neurological
rehabilitation unit of university tertiary research hospital. Twenty-two GBS
patients, who consented for the study and satisfied selection criteria, were
randomly assigned to yoga and control groups. Ten patients in each group
completed the study. The yoga group received 15 sessions in total over a period
of 3 weeks (1 h/session), one session per day on 5 days per week that consisted
of relaxation, Pranayama (breathing practices) and Guided meditation in addition
to conventional rehabilitation therapeutics. The control group received usual
rehabilitation care. All the patients were assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep
Quality Index, Numeric pain rating scale, Hospital anxiety and Depression scale
and Barthel index score. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon's signed rank test were
used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Quality of sleep improved significantly
with reduction of PSQI score in the yoga group (p = 0.04). There was reduction of
pain scores, anxiety and depression in both the groups without statistical
significance between groups (pain p > 0.05, anxiety p > 0.05 and depression p >
0.05). Overall functional status improved in both groups without significant
difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement was observed in
quality of sleep with yogic relaxation, pranayama, and meditation in GBS
patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS