A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Yoga of Awareness program in the management of fibromyalgia

Abstract

A mounting body of literature recommends that treatment for fibromyalgia (FM) encompass medications, exercise and improvement of coping skills. However, there is a significant gap in determining an effective counterpart to pharmacotherapy that incorporates both exercise and coping. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive yoga intervention on FM symptoms and coping. A sample of 53 female FM patients were randomized to the 8-week Yoga of Awareness program (gentle poses, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga-based coping instructions, group discussions) or to wait-listed standard care. Data were analyzed by intention to treat. At post-treatment, women assigned to the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements on standardized measures of FM symptoms and functioning, including pain, fatigue, and mood, and in pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and other coping strategies. This pilot study provides promising support for the potential benefits of a yoga program for women with FM.

Restorative Yoga for Symptom Management in Fibromyalgia: Results of an 8-week Intervention

“…In this study, the authors found rates of recruitment (57.14%), adherence (class 87.5%; home practice 93.33%), and retention (75%) were consistent with those reported in other FM and yoga studies investigating feasibility of a yoga intervention for persons diagnosed with FM [63][64][65][66][67][68]. Recruitment rates of 82.8% [64] and 38.6% [65], class adherence rates of 87.5% [64] and 86% [65], and a mean attrition rate of 25.23% ± 10.64% [63][64][65][66][67] were reported in other studies as positive findings for feasibility of the yoga style investigated. Only one of those studies [67] included qualitative data providing participant acceptability data, and none addressed feasibility of the intervention outside of the research setting.…”

“…Costs associated with the purchase of RY equipment available to this study (> $4,000 USD), although high as an initial expenditure, can be amortized over the useful life of the RY equipment, making this initial cash outlay an investment toward future RY intervention classes for other populations, too. However, the requirements for up to six yoga mats with additional extra padding and the instructor to participant ratio of 1:2 is much higher than the normal one to two yoga mats with no additional padding provided in community yoga classes and the one to two yoga instructors for class sizes ranging between 11 to 22 persons reported by other FM/yoga studies [64][65][66]. This higher ratio is consistent with that of the traditional delivery of individualized yoga therapy, suggesting that persons with FM may be better suited to individualized RY therapy sessions as opposed to a group RY delivery design.…”

“…Six studies investigating therapeutic yoga styles for persons with FM have been identified; none have investigated RY [63][64][65][66][67][68]. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to establish whether or not an 8-week RY intervention was feasible for persons diagnosed with FM.…”

Investigation of relationship between body awareness, pain, emotional status and quality of life with healty people

“…[20][21][22] Carson ve ark. [23] fibromiyalji için tedavi seçeneklerinden fibromiyalji (FM) ile başa çıkma becerilerinin geliştirilmesi ve egzersiz yöntemlerinin medikal tedavi ile birlikte uygulanması gerektiğini savunarak, bu amaçla FM ile başa çıkma becerilerini geliştirmek adına farkındalık geliştirme yöntemlerinden olan yoganın etkilerini değerlendir-mişlerdir. Elli üç fibromiyaljili kadın hastaya sekiz hafta boyunca meditasyon, nefes egzersizleri, yoga-odaklı başa çıkma talimatları, grup çalışmaları uygulamış-lardır.…”

A Comparative Study on the Effect of Yoga and Strengthening Exercises on the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia in Women

“…16 Carson et al conducted a randomised clinical trial and found that Yoga had promising results in the symptoms of FM including pain, fatigue, emotional disturbances and other coping strategies. 17 This study was undertaken to compare the effect of yoga and strengthening exercises on the symptoms of fibromyalgia in women.…”