Mind-body practices in chronic inflammatory arthritis

Mind-body practices are complementary approaches recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). While these practices are very diverse, they all focus on the interaction between mind and body. These include mindful meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, sophrology, hypnosis and various relaxation techniques. There is growing interest in incorporating these strategies in the management of chronic rheumatic dis-eases including rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this review is to describe the main mind-body practices and analyze the existing evidence in chronic rheumatic diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, yoga, Tai Chi and relaxation may improve patient-reported outcomes, but the benefit on inflammation and structural progression is unclear. In spondyloarthritis, very few studies are available but similar evidence exist. Further evaluations of these practices in chronic rheumatic diseases are needed since their risk/benefit ratio appears excellent.(c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Societe franc, aise de rhumatologie.

Automated summary

Mind-body practices, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and Tai Chi, show promise in improving patient-reported outcomes in chronic rheumatic diseases, but their impact on inflammation and structural progression remains unclear.