Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine studies published from 2015 to 2020 and to determine whether yoga can be an efficacious approach during the pregnancy or postpartum period. PubMed, EBSCO, Wiley and Science Direct databases were searched for studies published from January 2015 to June 2020. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, covering 1116 participants were identified. The results demonstrated that yoga intervention could significantly reduce depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.003), labor pain (P = 0.001), back pain and the percentage of cesarean section (P = 0.002). There was significant improvement in psychological well-being (P < 0.5), immune function and the intrauterine fetal growth (P < 0.5). Moreover, the yoga intervention group has lower salivary cortisol (P < 0.001), salivary alpha-amylase and salivary a-amylase levels (P < 0.5) and higher immunoglobulin A (P < 0.001) levels when compared with that in control groups. The findings suggested that yoga is well benefited for either pregnant women or postpartum women. More high-quality and well-controlled randomized controlled trials are required to provide more information regarding the utility of yoga interventions for different stages of pregnancy women.
Highlights
A woman during pregnancy undergoes different physiological, psychological, social and emotional challenges [1]
Further investigation was warranted to evaluate whether prenatal yoga could represent an effective intervention for mild moderate antenatal depression
The findings showed that the pregnancy yoga was useful for either pregnant or postpartum women
Summary
A woman during pregnancy undergoes different physiological, psychological, social and emotional challenges [1]. There are many therapeutic schemes for the discomfort of pregnant women, mainly including pharmaceutical drugs treatments and non-pharmacological treatments. Pharmaceutical drugs may be harmful for the fetus, including the risks of side effects and substance dependence. In the first and late trimester of pregnancy, inappropriate administration of the drugs can lead to malformation of the fetus. It is widely acknowledged that mindfulness meditation [4], relaxation therapy [5], music [6], tai chi [7], qigong [8] and yoga [4] [7] could relieve the unpleasant symptoms of pregnant women
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
