Impact of Iyengar Yoga on Quality of Life in Young Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective-Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, disabling disease that can greatly compromise health related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a 6-week twice/week Iyengar yoga (IY) program on HRQOL of young adults with RA compared to a usual-care waitlist control group.Method-The program was designed to improve the primary outcome of HRQOL including pain, as well as disability and psychological functioning in patients. Assessments were collected pre, post, and at 2-months following treatment. Weekly ratings of anxiety, depression, pain and sleep were also recorded. A total of 26 participants completed the intervention (yoga = 11; usual care waitlist = 15). All participants were female (mean age =28 years).Results-Overall attrition was low at 15%. On average, women in the yoga group attended 96% of the yoga classes. No adverse events were reported. Relative to the usual-care waitlist, women assigned to the yoga program showed significantly greater improvement on standardized measures of HRQOL, pain disability, general health, mood, fatigue, acceptance of chronic pain and selfefficacy regarding pain at post treatment. Almost half of the yoga group reported clinically meaningful symptom improvement. Analysis of the uncontrolled effects and maintenance of treatment effects showed improvements in HRQOL general health, pain disability and weekly ratings of pain, anxiety and depression that maintained at follow-up. Conclusion-The findings suggest a brief IY intervention is a feasible and safe adjunctive treatment for young people with RA, leading to health related quality of life (HRQOL), pain disability, fatigue, and mood benefits. Moreover, improvements in quality of life, pain disability and mood persisted at the 2-month follow-up. KeywordsYoga; arthritis; young adults Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can impact joint function and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL), especially when arthritis develops early in a person's life [1,2]. Health care use, depression and pain are high amongst adolescents and Correspondence: Subhadra Evans, PhD, Pediatric Pain Program, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, MDCC 22-464, 10833 Le Conte Ave 90024, United suevans@mednet.ucla.edu.. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Despite the need for physical and psychological treatments aimed at young people with RA, traditional approaches remain limited [4]. A multi-pronged treatment strategy is recommended, including rehabilitation efforts that promote a range of physical ...

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“…The reported lifetime prevalence of pain and associated disability ranges from 54% to more than 80%, and the point prevalence rate is around 20% in the general population [2]. Although the burden of LBP is not clearly reported, more effective interventions including yoga therapy could potentially lead to cost savings.Yoga therapy has been shown as an effective intervention for treating chronic or recurrent LBP [3][4][5]. Yoga practice may increase muscle strength, endurance, proprioception, and balance while emphasizing movement through a full range of motion (ROM) to increase flexibility and mobility [6].…”

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“…Yoga therapy has been shown as an effective intervention for treating chronic or recurrent LBP [3][4][5]. Yoga practice may increase muscle strength, endurance, proprioception, and balance while emphasizing movement through a full range of motion (ROM) to increase flexibility and mobility [6].…”

“…The kinetics causing intra-abdominal pressure gradients may proceed independent of conscious, neuromuscular control [7]. However, previous studies on yoga therapy mostly utilized pain/disability questionnaires or quality of life tools to compare the limited effectiveness following the intervention [3][4][5][6].…”