Assessment of Functional and Structural Outcomes of Yoga Module in Hypothyroidism: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Many organ systems are impacted by the common endocrine condition known as hypothyroidism. Although levothyroxine is still the recommended course of therapy, complementary techniques such as yoga have demonstrated potential in enhancing metabolic and functional health. Objective: To assess functional and structural changes in hypothyroid patients following an integrated Yoga therapy program. Methods: A pilot interventional study was conducted on 20 clinically diagnosed hypothyroid patients aged 25–45 years. The intervention included a structured Yoga protocol (asana, pranayama, bandha, dhyana) for 12 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4), neck ultrasound for thyroid volume, quality of life (QoL) scores, body mass index (BMI), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) along with Subjective criteria. Results: A significant reduction in mean TSH levels was observed (p < 0.05), along with improvement in QoL scores and fatigue. A marginal reduction in thyroid volume was seen in a subset of patients. Subjective improvements included better sleep, energy, Appetite and mood. Conclusion: Yoga therapy may be a useful adjunctive intervention in the treatment of hypothyroidism, based on the structural and functional benefits that have been noted. To confirm these early results and investigate the underlying processes, more randomised controlled studies are necessary.