Effects of recumbent isometric yoga on the daily functioning level of patients with [ME/CFS]: a randomized, controlled trial 2025 Oka et al

Andy

Andy

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Abstract​

Background​

Although seated isometric yoga has been shown to reduce the fatigue and pain of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), some patients who are for the most part bedridden have difficulty practicing it. Many patients with this disease also suffer from fibromyalgia (FM). We developed a recumbent isometric yoga program for patients who were for the most part bedridden, including patients with comorbid FM. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this recumbent isometric yoga intervention with such patients.

Methods​

This was a randomized, controlled trial of 48 adult patients (7 male, 41 female, age 20–70 years) with ME/CFS without satisfactory improvement after ≥ 3 months of conventional therapy. They were divided randomly into a yoga group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 24). The yoga group received conventional therapy with recumbent isometric yoga practice for ~ 12 weeks (25-min sessions with a yoga instructor at hospital visits and daily in-home sessions). The control group received conventional therapy alone. The effect of recumbent isometric yoga on the level of functioning was assessed by measuring Performance Status (PS). Fatigue was assessed with self-rated questionnaires, including the Chalder Fatigue Scale (FS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Adverse events and benefits were recorded for the yoga group.

Results​

After the intervention period, the PS score of the yoga group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001), suggesting an improvement in functioning level. The Chalder FS score decreased in both groups, but the decrease was greater in the yoga group than in the control group (P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the Chalder FS score was reduced significantly only in the yoga group in patients with severe disease (P < 0.001) and those with comorbid FM (P < 0.01), although the PS scores did not differ significantly. In the yoga group, a single practice session with a yoga instructor significantly reduced fatigue and increased vigor in patients with severe disease and patients with comorbid FM. Patients reported no serious adverse effects and many benefits of recumbent isometric yoga, including improvements in physical symptoms and brain fog, enhanced awareness of their limits to activities that cause post-exertional malaise, and promotion of behavioral changes to live better within their limits.

Conclusions​

Recumbent isometric yoga is an effective adjunctive therapy for patients with ME/CFS, including those for the most part bedridden and those who have FM.

Open access
 
See also
Andy

Thread 'Effects of recumbent isometric yoga on the orthostatic cardiovascular response of patients with [ME/CFS] 2025 Oka et al'

Abstract​

Background​

Our previous studies demonstrated that the regular practice of recumbent isometric yoga reduced the fatigue of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Some patients with ME/CFS have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS); however, the effects of recumbent isometric yoga on orthostatic cardiovascular responses and whether recumbent isometric yoga improves POTS remain unknown. This pilot study was done to investigate the effect of recumbent isometric yoga on the orthostatic cardiovascular response of patients with...
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Open-label + subjective outcomes.

The Chalder fatigue score changed 5.1 for yoga and 1.8 for controls, for a between group difference of 3.3.

The do not provide the POMS Fatigue and Vigor scores for the control groups, so it’s not possible tø calculate the between-group differences.

There are som sub-group data for only the severe and those with FM as well.

In general, the data is poorly presented and it seems like they’ve almost forgotten that the purpose of a controlled trial is to compare between the groups.

Come to think of it, it’s unclear what the controls even did. It seems like they did nothing, and the yoga group got a lot of attention.

The program consists of four parts: (1) adjusting external and internal conditions, (2) performing isometric yoga poses, (3) practicing deep relaxation and awakening, and (4) generalizing yoga-induced awareness to daily life.

First, utmost attention was paid to external stimuli, such as temperature, humidity, sound, smell, and especially light, so that patients in a recumbent position could practice isometric yoga with minimal stress. When the patient practiced recumbent isometric yoga at the hospital, the room was equipped with brightness-adjustable ceiling lights that were adjusted by the instructor according to patient preference before starting the session. The instructor was mindful of the volume and tone of her voice. Patients were also asked to be mindful of these factors when they practiced at home to help promote an environment in which deep relaxation could be facilitated. Then, the patient was asked to loosen the tension of the whole body, especially the back, by adjusting the position of the pelvis and to focus on natural breathing and to put negative thoughts aside.

Second, five isometric poses were practiced as described previously [10]. These poses were to be performed very slowly while breathing, with or without coordinated sounds, and with the patient using 30%–50% of their maximal muscular strength. We intentionally avoided poses that required strong stretches so that patients with FM could practice with minimal pain.

Third, patients were asked to rest in a fully relaxed, recumbent position for several minutes and subsequently to awaken. The session was designed to take about 25 min. However, the program was modified on a patient-to-patient basis. For example, some patients, especially severe ones, decreased the number of repetitions per pose or skipped some poses depending on their physical condition.

Generalizing yoga-induced awareness to daily life​

Fourth, in addition to regular practice of recumbent isometric yoga in the hospital and at home, on the day of the hospital visit, the patient’s therapeutic awareness evoked by yoga practice was shared with the physician, and patients were encouraged to generalize it to their daily lives. That is, the patients were encouraged to live their daily lives with the calm, relaxed, and peaceful feelings brought about by yoga and to develop the habit of listening to the “voice of the body” to become aware of the threshold that worsens their condition and triggers PEM and to be able to live peacefully within the limits of their energy level.
Having read through all of that, I think there is a real possibility that the isometric part of the yoga barely contributed anything. It mostly reads like a very considerate guide to pacing with a bit of added movement.

Seeing as the movement is the controversial part here, I think they really missed an opportunity to have a control group that did everything but the movements.

Overall, I think the results are borderline impossible to interpret because it looks like an open label A + B vs A trial with only subjective outcomes.
 
I really hate this political medicine thing. It's actually becoming harder with time to say that the lying and fraud in politics are worse than this, they're the exact same. About the only difference is there is only one dominant ideology, completely unopposed.

Why can't we have the scientific medicine kind? The kind that works. Why are we subjected to the kind that doesn't work? No one benefits from this. It has zero chance of accomplishing anything. Even a "swords in ponds" system of bestowing political power has better chances of producing good outcomes than this.
 
It's funny how they never study anything that might actually be of value to bedbound people, isn't it.

I dunno, like heat pads small enough to drag to where you want them with quickly fatiguing arms. Or drinks containers that don't make everything taste plasticky or metallic. Or story readings broken into six-minute episodes.
 
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