Scientific Research on Yoga > Disease and Disorders > Pain and Inflammation

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Pain and Inflammation Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Conditions, Inflammation and Inflammatory Conditions

Video Spotlight: Inflammation

Watch this video to learn more about the research conducted on yoga and aging.

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These citations were curated by Yoga Alliance's Director of Yoga Research, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa.

Review Papers

Review Papers (What's this?)

Mindfulness Training and Yoga for the Management of Chronic Non-malignant Pain: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness [Internet].
Lachance CC, McCormack S.
Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2019 Sep 20.
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Yoga for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain Management: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines [Internet].
Gray C, McCormack S.
Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2019 Jul 8.
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What are the known effects of yoga on the brain in relation to motor performances, body awareness and pain? A narrative review.
Rivest-Gadbois E, Boudrias MH.
Complement Ther Med. 2019 Jun;44:129-142.
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Impact of Yoga on Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Systematic Review.
Djalilova DM, Schulz PS, Berger AM, Case AJ, Kupzyk KA, Ross AC.
Biol Res Nurs. 2019 Mar;21(2):198-209.
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Resilient to Pain: A Model of How Yoga May Decrease Interference Among People Experiencing Chronic Pain.
Donaldson M.
Explore (NY). 2019 May - Jun;15(3):230-238.
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A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness based interventions and yoga in inflammatory bowel disease.
Ewais T, Begun J, Kenny M, Rickett K, Hay K, Ajilchi B, Kisely S.
J Psychosom Res. 2019 Jan;116:44-53.
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Pain-related encephalic regions influenced by yoga meditation: An integrative review.
Jurisic P, Salm DC, Vieira C, Cidral-Filho FJ, Mazzardo-Martins L, Martins DF.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:320-324.
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Tele-yoga for Chronic Pain: Current Status and Future Directions.
Mathersul DC, Mahoney LA, Bayley PJ.
Glob Adv Health Med. 2018 Apr 2;7:2164956118766011.
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Unique autonomic responses to pain in yoga practitioners.
Cotton V, Low LA, Villemure C, Bushnell MC.
Psychosom Med. 2018 Apr 3.
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Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: Evidence and applications.
Majeed MH, Ali AA, Sudak DM.
Asian J Psychiatr. 2018 Feb;32:79-83.
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Using Integrative Medicine in Pain Management: An Evaluation of Current Evidence.
Lin YC, Wan L, Jamison RN.
Anesth Analg. 2017 Dec;125(6):2081-2093.
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Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Hood MM, Jedel S.
Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2017 Dec;46(4):859-874.
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Yoga and other meditative movement therapies to reduce chronic pain.
Achilefu A, Joshi K, Meier M, McCarthy LH.
J Okla State Med Assoc. 2017 Jan;110(1):14-16.
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Yoga intervention and functional pain syndromes: a selective review.
Sutar R, Yadav S, Desai G.
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;28(3):316-22.
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Mind-body therapies and control of inflammatory biology: A descriptive review.
Bower JE, Irwin MR.
Brain Behav Immun. 2016 Jan;51:1-11.
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Mind-body therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms.
Lee C, Crawford C, Hickey A; Active Self-Care Therapies for Pain (PACT) Working Group.
Pain Med. 2014 Apr;15 Suppl 1:S21-39.
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Movement therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms.
Lee C, Crawford C, Schoomaker E; Active Self-Care Therapies for Pain (PACT) Working Group.
Pain Med. 2014 Apr;15 Suppl 1:S40-53.
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Notable Publications

Notable Publications (What's this?)

A pilot study assessing acceptability and feasibility of hatha yoga for chronic pain in people receiving opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorder.
Uebelacker LA, Van Noppen D, Tremont G, Bailey G, Abrantes A, J Subst Abuse Treat. 2019 Oct;105:19-27.
Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:5387258.
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#MindinBody - feasibility of vigorous exercise (Bikram yoga versus high intensity interval training) to improve persistent pain in women with a history of trauma: a pilot randomized control trial.
Flehr A, Barton C, Coles J, Gibson SJ, Lambert GW, Lambert EA, Dhar AK, Dixon JB.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Aug 29;19(1):234.
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Using Yoga Nidra Recordings for Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Colonoscopy.
Li L, Shu W, Li Z, Liu Q, Wang H, Feng B, Ouyang YQ.
Pain Manag Nurs. 2019 Feb;20(1):39-46.
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Yoga for People With Chronic Pain in a Community-Based Setting: A Feasibility and Pilot RCT.
Schmid AA, Fruhauf CA, Sharp JL, Van Puymbroeck M, Bair MJ, Portz JD.
J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019 Jan-Dec;24:2515690X19863763.
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Unique Autonomic Responses to Pain in Yoga Practitioner.
Cotton VA, Low LA, Villemure C, Bushnell MC.
Psychosom Med. 2018 Nov/Dec;80(9):791-798.
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Yoga improves quality of life and fall risk-factors in a sample of people with chronic pain and Type 2 Diabetes.
Schmid AA, Atler KE, Malcolm MP, Grimm LA, Klinedinst TC, Marchant DR, Marchant TP, Portz JD.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:369-373.
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Elderly-customized hatha yoga effects on the vascular inflammation factors of elderly women.
Kim S, Ju S.
J Phys Ther Sci. 2017 Oct;29(10):1708-1711.
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Development and Feasibility of a Group-Based Therapeutic Yoga Program for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Huang AJ, Rowen TS, Abercrombie P, Subak LL, Schembri M, Plaut T, Chao MT.
Pain Med. 2017 Oct 1;18(10):1864-1872.
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Randomised clinical trial: yoga vs written self-care advice for ulcerative colitis.
Cramer H, Schäfer M, Schöls M, Köcke J, Elsenbruch S, Lauche R, Engler H, Dobos G, Langhorst J.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Jun;45(11):1379-1389.
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Effects of yogic intervention on pain scores and quality of life in females with chronic pelvic pain.
Saxena R, Gupta M, Shankar N, Jain S, Saxena A.
Int J Yoga. 2017 Jan-Apr;10(1):9-15. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.186155.
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Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women.
Harkess KN, Ryan J, Delfabbro PH, Cohen-Woods S.
Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Nov 29;6(11):e965.
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Yoga Therapy for Abdominal Pain-Related Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Korterink JJ, Ockeloen LE, Hilbink M, Benninga MA, Deckers-Kocken JM.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 Nov;63(5):481-487.
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Effects of 8-Week Hatha Yoga Training on Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Healthy, Female Chinese Subjects: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Chen N, Xia X, Qin L, Luo L, Han S, Wang G, Zhang R, Wan Z.
Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:5387258.
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Insular cortex mediates increased pain tolerance in yoga practitioners.
Villemure C, Ceko M, Cotton VA, Bushnell MC.
Cereb Cortex. 2014 Oct;24(10):2732-40.
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Yoga for persistent pain: new findings and directions for an ancient practice.
Wren AA, Wright MA, Carson JW, Keefe FJ.
Pain. 2011 Mar;152(3):477-80.
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Intracerebral pain processing in a Yoga Master who claims not to feel pain during meditation.
Kakigi R, Nakata H, Inui K, Hiroe N, Nagata O, Honda M, Tanaka S, Sadato N, Kawakami M.
Eur J Pain. 2005 Oct;9(5):581-9.
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