Holistic Impact of Selective Hatha Yoga Practices on the Physical and Mental Health of Knee Osteoarthritis Patients in Himachal Pradesh
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of a structured 12-week selective Hatha Yoga intervention on the physical health of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 100 participants aged 45 75 were randomly assigned to an experimental group (yoga + medication) and a control group (medication only). The intervention consisted of seven asanas and two pranayama techniques performed daily. Pre- and post assessment using the SF-36 Health Survey revealed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) in physical functioning, pain reduction, role limitations due to physical health, and general health in the experimental group. While both groups showed progress, the experimental group demonstrated greater therapeutic gains, suggesting that selective Hatha Yoga practices offer measurable benefits as a complementary approach to conventional osteoarthritis treatment.
Keywords: hatha yoga, Knee Osteoarthritis, physical functioning, pain management, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, complementary therapy, SF-36, pranayama
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