EFFECTS OF YOGIC PRACTICES ON PAIN AND QUALITY OF SLEEP IN OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINT AMONG MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder that significantly impairs mobility, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life, particularly among middle-aged women. This experiment compared the impact of an organized 12-week yogic intervention on pain and sleep quality in women aged 35-55 years with KOA. A random assignment of 90 individuals (45 experimental and 45 control) was made to undergo either yogic training or an active rest routine, respectively. The validated measures which were used as pre- and post-tests were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to investigate pain and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Findings showed the strong decrease of pain and the significant enhancement of sleep quality of those engaging in yoga, with the controls showing a minor change in both of these variables only. These results demonstrate yoga as a non-pharmacological, holistic, and effective therapy to help in pain and sleeping disruptions in knee osteoarthritis. Incorporating yoga into routine management may improve patient outcomes and promote long-term well-being among women with knee osteoarthritis.