The Feasibility and Benefits of a Virtual Yoga Practice for Stroke Survivors With Aphasia

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the feasibility of a virtual, adapted, aphasia-friendly yoga program for people with aphasia; (b) evaluate evidence of improvement in patient-reported outcomes and word retrieval; (c) explore the immediate impact of a yoga session on participant subjective emotional state; and (d) assess participant motivation and perceived benefits of participating in a yoga program. Method: This feasibility study employed a mixed-method design to document the feasibility of a virtual, 8-week adapted yoga program. A pre-/posttreatment design was used to assess patient-reported outcome measures for resilience, stress, sleep, and pain, as well as word-finding abilities. Semistructured interviews with participants were thematically analyzed to provide insight into participants' motivation and perceptions regarding their experience. Results: Comparisons of pre- and postprogram group means suggest that participation in an 8-week adapted yoga program may positively impact perceptions of resilience (large effect), stress (medium effect), sleep disturbance (medium effect), and pain (small effect) for people with aphasia. Findings from within-session reports and brief, semistructured interviews with participants indicated positive outcomes and subjective experiences and suggest that people with aphasia are motivated to participate in yoga for a variety of reasons. Conclusions: This study is an important first step in confirming the feasibility of an adapted, aphasia-friendly yoga program offered via a remote platform for people with aphasia. The findings support recent work suggesting that yoga may be a potent adjunct to traditional rehabilitation efforts to improve resilience and psychosocial aspects in persons with aphasia. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.22688125