ATHETOSIS

Athetosis refers to a particular type of involuntary movements that affects the whole body. Unlike tremors which is repetitive rhythmic movements of the hand which may be fine or cause, athetosis affects the whole body with irregular tortuous movements of the trunk, limbs, neck and face. The cause of athetosis is damage to the balance maintaining part of the brain called extra pyramidal system (EPS).

The common cause is brain damage during child birth due to lack of oxygen to the brain which happens if the body does not cry immediately after birth for any reason. Athetosis can also be caused by genetic disorders where the disease may be hereditary. Some drugs gives for controlling violent behavior in mentally disturbed and patients like schizophrenia may cause athetosis (EPS) which is reversible.

A cause of multiple sclerosis was treated by our yoga therapist in a German hospital. She had brain damage resulting in very bad athetotic movements which was making her impossible to carry on doing any of her normal activities. She was not even able to sit up for a few minutes. Although very alert confident and co-operative, physiotherapist also found it very difficult to handle her as the body would become more stiff whenever the physiotherapy was tried.

She started doing yoga with understanding of the concepts of

Initially she was only asked to and listen to the instructions of the therapist with closed eyes, lying in bed. Within one week she picked up the idea and she could show a miraculous change. She would tell her friends to take a video of my body. I shall show how I can control the body movements within the next 20 minutes. She would then sit up comfortably with minimal movements for almost half an hour and her speech also become legible during this period. She learnt how to propose herself for any action be it eating, sitting or physiotherapy by doing deep relaxation and chanting OM several times. Even in this disease with supposed to be an irreversible damage to the brain areas she could use yoga techniques by channelising her other areas of the brain to develop mastery over the athatotic involuntary body movements.

This is an example of a case with sever problem. If we see cases in early stages with less severe movement yoga practices of the entire basic set including Yogasanas, Pranayama, Meditation and Chanting can be taught.

The recommended set of practices of IAYT for athetosis includes.

1.   Sukshmavyayama with deep internal awareness. The involuntary movements to be synchronized with the voluntary movements – 20 minutes.

2. Loosening exercises – fast repetitive voluntary movements of forward backward trunk movements, side bending and twisting helps to break the loop of involuntary movements – 10 minutes

3. Mukha dhouti several times in between these body movements followed by QRT with loud chanting of AAA.

4. Yogasanas: Balancing postures are very useful. Inverted postures including head stand (if possible) will help to improve blood flow to the head area.

Reference for all these practices are available in Yoga for Positive Health, published by SVYP of Vivekananda Yoga  Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore. Ph: 26612669

DHANUR AKARANASANA – Bow Tensing

Benefits: promotes hip mobility and is therefore good preparation for meditation posture. Helps counter sciatic problems and strengthens the arm, shoulder and back muscles.