None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease, with an estimated prevalence of 0.8–3.2% in the New Zealand population. Current medical management of RA is predominantly pharmaceutical. However, exercise is also recommended as a non-pharmaceutical form of symptom management, targeting both mental and physical health. People with musculoskeletal conditions are the highest users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and an increasingly popular form of CAM among people with RA is yoga. In our previous research focus group research, people with RA perceived yoga as a form of exercise adaptable to the variable symptoms of their RA; and identified pain, sleep, and stress as symptoms of their RA they believe may be particularly amenable to a yoga practice. We have conducted a systematic review, which suggests yoga is a safe and acceptable form of physical exercise for individuals across a range of musculoskeletal conditions, with potentially clinically relevant improvements in physical and mental health. Additionally, we have completed a Delphi survey of leading yoga researchers and identified parameters of yoga interventions appropriate for people with a musculoskeletal condition. The present study will look at the effect of a yoga practice specifically tailored for people with RA on a participant’s mental and social health. The 8-week study design is guided by the results of our Delphi survey. The study’s aims are: 1) To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a yoga intervention for rheumatoid arthritis, operationalized as time and rate of recruitment, protocol adherence, participant retention, safety, and acceptability of the intervention; and 2) To estimate the effect of yoga on primary outcomes of RA-related pain and sleep quality.
Interventions
Participants in the intervention/yoga group will continue to receive their usual medical care under their Consultant Rheumatologist and General Practitioner, and prescribed concomitant medication for their rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, they will receive an 8-week yoga programme of group and home practice, tailored for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Group practice will consist of a weekly 75- minute instructor-led yoga class, consisting of gentle yoga postures, breathing and relaxation t
Participants in the intervention/yoga group will continue to receive their usual medical care under their Consultant Rheumatologist and General Practitioner, and prescribed concomitant medication for their rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, they will receive an 8-week yoga programme of group and home practice, tailored for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Group practice will consist of a weekly 75- minute instructor-led yoga class, consisting of gentle yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques, with a focus on physical and mental relaxation. Home practice will consist of following a 20-minute audio relaxation practice, to be completed 3 times per week, at a time and day of the participant’s choice.
Sponsors
Dr Simon Stebbings
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants need to have a clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria; be aged 18 years or older; be able to understand written and spoken English; have baseline pain equal to or greater than 3 on a 10-point numeric rating scale; have baseline sleep disturbance equivalent to greater than 30 minutes to fall asleep or greater than 30 minutes awakened during the night; have had a stable medication regime for the previous 8 weeks; be able to self-mobilize in and out of a chair; agree to refrain from receiving or commencing other complementary and alternative medicine treatments or exercise programmes for the duration of the intervention; agree to notify researchers of any change in usual medications during the intervention, especially analgesics; and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Potential participants will be excluded if they already practice or have regularly practiced yoga in the previous 6 months; have recently had or expect to have surgery within 6 months of screening; have a medical condition, physical, or mental health impairment apart from RA that precludes their safe participation in exercise; are unable to commit to availability for the full course of the intervention; or have had or expect to have intra-articular steroid injections within 4 weeks of screening.
Outcome results
None listed