NCT07524231

Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga

Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga on Pain Intensity, Stress, and Beta-endorphin Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 72 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Firat University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of laughter yoga on pain intensity, fatigue, and beta-endorphin levels in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Laughter yoga, a complementary therapy combining breathing exercises and laughter techniques, may help improve symptom management and psychological well-being in individuals with MS.

Detailed description

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, and demyelinating disease that generally affects the central nervous system in young adults. Multiple Sclerosis is a highly heterogeneous disease, with a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms depending on the area of the central nervous system affected, including motor, sensory, autonomic, and cognitive impairments. Multiple Sclerosis is associated with a broad spectrum of bodily dysfunctions, including motor problems such as muscle weakness, changes in muscle tone, ataxia, abnormal balance, and sensory disturbances. In addition, fatigue, pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, cognitive and emotional problems, vision problems, speech and swallowing disorders, and sexual dysfunction also affect individuals with MS. Currently, there are 2.5 million MS patients worldwide, and the cost of treatment and care for these patients is quite high. In addition to medical treatment, traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods are used in the treatment of pain and fatigue. Laughter Yoga, a type of yoga that has begun to be applied as a TCM method, was developed by Indian physician Dr. Developed by Madan Kataria in 1995, each laughter yoga session consists of breathing exercises, stretching and relaxation techniques, and laughter exercises. Physiologically, laughter yoga has been reported to increase breathing, relax muscles, stimulate circulation and the immune system, increase endorphin release, thereby increasing pain threshold and tolerance, reduce fatigue, decrease stress hormone levels, strengthen mental function, reduce depression and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and enhance interpersonal relationships and social interaction, thus improving psychological well-being. This research was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study to evaluate the effects of laughter yoga applied to Multiple Sclerosis patients on pain intensity, fatigue, and Beta Endorphin levels.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Laughter Yoga	A complementary intervention including breathing exercises, stretching, relaxation techniques, and laughter exercises applied to patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-10
• Primary completion: 2026-07-10
• Completion: 2026-08-10
• First posted: 2026-04-13
• Last updated: 2026-04-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)