Health Technology Assessment in Action (Oct 2024)
Investigating the Comparative Effectiveness of Yoga and Relaxation Therapy on Restlessness, Fatigue and Difficulty Concentrating in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system, leading to reduced quality of life and impaired physical and psychological functions. Objectives: This study aims to examine the relative efficacy of yoga and relaxation therapy in improving sleep disturbances, fatigue, and cognitive impairment among individuals diagnosed with MS. Methods: This study employed a semi-experimental research design, including a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up over three months. The target population comprised all MS patients referred to the Iranian MS Association in Tehran between July and November 2023. Sixty participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to research groups: Two yoga therapy groups with 17 participants each, a relaxation therapy group with 16 participants, and a control group with 18 participants. The yoga therapy group participated in twelve 90-minute sessions twice a week, while the control group received no intervention and was placed on a waiting list. Various tools, including the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI-O), and a concentration skills questionnaire, were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, Bonferroni post hoc test, MANCOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests with a significance level of 0.05, utilizing SPSS 27 software. Results: The study found a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the restlessness factor in both the post-test and follow-up phases. Additionally, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the levels of physical fatigue, mental fatigue, decreased activity, and decreased motivation in both the post-test and follow-up phases, indicating significant changes in the fatigue factor among the research groups. However, there was no significant difference in the general fatigue component between the research groups. A significant difference (P < 0.001) was also found in the concentration factor, particularly in the components of voluntary and involuntary concentration, during both the post-test and follow-up stages. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that both yoga and relaxation therapy techniques significantly reduce restlessness, physical tiredness, mental fatigue, decreased activity, and decreased motivation. Furthermore, the findings validate that both yoga and relaxation therapy techniques effectively enhance voluntary and involuntary concentration.
