Intellectual disabilities and yoga

Sir,

It was with interest and admiration that I read Hawkins et al.'s article on the influence of yogic exercises on persons with intellectual disabilities.[1] There is a dearth of literature on the effect of yoga on intellectual disabilities. Lotan provided early review with a variety of interventions for individuals with Rett Syndrome.[2] Rather than clear mandate for a few interventions, the review provided effective interventions available to inquisitive parents having children with Rett Syndrome.

Two esteemed members of this journal earlier studied sudomotor sympathetic hypofunction in persons with Down Syndrome.[3] In another study, Uma et al. found the efficacy of yoga as an effective therapeutic tool in the management of children with cognitive disability.[4] The authors used the term “mentally retarded children,” which I shall discourage, since being the Coordinator of Enabling Unit for medical students with disabilities, I find this term with negative connotation. Of course, it is a personal opinion and the authors are welcome to differ. The article, however, showed highly significant improvement in the intelligent quotient and social adaptation parameters in the yoga group as compared to control group.

We need more of yoga studies to validate the reliability of yogic interventions on persons with disabilities. A meta-analysis published earlier this year also suggests that yoga is a useful supplementary approach with moderate effect sizes on pain and associated disability[5] The need of the hour is more rigorous and well-designed research studies to supplement literature in this relatively unexplored field.