Multiple SclerosisNCT07524231
Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga
A study testing Laughter Yoga in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Firat University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Multiple Sclerosis
- What is being tested?
- Laughter Yoga
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Mar 2026to 10 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- • Being over 18 years old
- Being able to communicate adequately
- Volunteering to participate in the research
Who cannot join
- Unwillingness to participate in the study
- Having severe cognitive impairment that prevents understanding or participation in the intervention
- Having a psychiatric disorder that may affect participation in the study
- Experiencing an acute MS relapse during the study period
- Having another serious neurological or chronic disease that may affect the study outcomes
- Regular participation in another complementary therapy program similar to laughter yoga
- Communication problems that prevent participation in the intervention sessions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Gül DURAL
Elâzığ
Gül DURAL, pHD, 04242370000, gulkaya@firat.edu.tr
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga on Pain Intensity, Stress, and Beta-endorphin Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
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.
Read the 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
- Being tested
- Laughter Yoga
- Keywords
- Multiple Sclerosis, pain, Laughter Yoga,, fatigue
- Medical subject headings
- Multiple Sclerosis, Pain, Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Laughter YogaBehavioural
A complementary intervention including breathing exercises, stretching, relaxation techniques, and laughter exercises applied to patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Patients with Multiple Sclerosis who will receive laughter yoga in addition to routine care. Receives: Behavioral: Laughter Yoga |
| Control Group | No intervention | Patients with Multiple Sclerosis who will receive routine care without laughter yoga. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at [time point]
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10 cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants will indicate their pain level by marking on the scale, and the score will be determined by measuring the distance in centimeters or millimeters.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Secondary outcomes (2)
Fatigue Level
Fatigue severity will be assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a 9-item questionnaire evaluating fatigue over the past month. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater fatigue severity. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Armutlu et al. in 2007. A change of 0.45 points is considered clinically meaningful.
Measured: 1 month
Change in plasma beta-endorphin levels measured by ELISA at baseline and week 4
Plasma beta-endorphin levels will be measured using an ELISA method. Blood samples will be collected from participants in the intervention group before and after laughter yoga sessions at week 1 and week 4, and from the control group at week 1 and week 4. Samples will be centrifuged, and serum will be stored at -80°C until analysis. Beta-endorphin concentrations will be determined using a commercially available ELISA kit.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start10 Mar 2026
- Primary completion10 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion10 Aug 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Multiple SclerosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Firat University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Gul Dural, Firat University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07524231
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/15-01
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of the Effects of Laughter Yoga on Pain Intensity, Stress, and Beta-endorphin Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07524231
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024/15-01
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Keywords
- Multiple Sclerosis, pain, Laughter Yoga,, fatigue
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Firat UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 10 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Laughter YogaPatients with Multiple Sclerosis who will receive laughter yoga in addition to routine care. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Patients with Multiple Sclerosis who will receive routine care without laughter yoga. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- • Being over 18 years old
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Unwillingness to participate in the study
- Having severe cognitive impairment that prevents understanding or participation in the intervention
- Having a psychiatric disorder that may affect participation in the study
- Experiencing an acute MS relapse during the study period
- Having another serious neurological or chronic disease that may affect the study outcomes
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Laughter YogaA complementary intervention including breathing exercises, stretching, relaxation techniques, and laughter exercises applied to patients with Multiple Sclerosis. | Behavioural | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at [time point]
Time frame: Baseline and week 4
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10 cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Participants will indicate their pain level by marking on the scale, and the score will be determined by measuring the distance in centimeters or millimeters.
2 secondary outcomes
Fatigue Level
Time frame: 1 month
Change in plasma beta-endorphin levels measured by ELISA at baseline and week 4
Time frame: Baseline and week 4
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 2
Metformin as an add-on or Monotherapy in Treatment of Aging People With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingObservational study
Pain Phenotypes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Pain
Not yet recruiting
Evaluating the Effect of the Zeen Mobility Device on Clinical Practicality, Safety, and Impact (Via Assessments of Walking, Standing Tolerance, Balance, Endurance, Effort, and Participation in Daily Tasks) in an Outpatient Rehabilitation Setting for Individuals With Mobility Impairments.
Stroke, Parkinson's Disease (PD)
RecruitingPhase 3
Dalfampridine Combined With Physical Therapy for Mobility Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 2
Targeting Agonists of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Laughter Yoga in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by Firat University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Gül DURAL, pHD (04242370000, gulkaya@firat.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at [time point] (time frame: Baseline and week 4). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026.