YOGA IN SEDENTARY ADULTS ARTHRITIS: EFFECTS OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED PRAGMATIC TRIAL
Objective—To evaluate the impact of Integral-based hatha yoga in sedentary people with arthritis.Methods—75 sedentary adults aged 18+ with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of yoga (2 60 min classes and 1 home practice/wk) or waitlist. Poses were modified for individual needs. The primary endpoint was physical health (SF36 Physical Component Summary [PCS]) adjusted for baseline; exploratory adjusted outcomes included fitness, mood, stress, self-efficacy, SF36 health-related quality of life (HRQL) and RA disease activity. In everyone completing yoga, we explored long-term effects at 9 months.Results—Participants were mostly female (96%), white (55%), and college-educated (51%), with a mean (SD) age of 52 (12). Average disease duration was 9 (9) yrs. and 49% had RA. At 8 weeks, yoga was associated with significantly higher PCS (6.5; 95% CI: 2.0,10.7), walking capacity (125 m; 95% CI:15,235), positive affect (5.2; 95% CI:1.4,8.9) and lower CES-D (−3.0; 95% CI: −4.8,−1.3). Significant (p<.05) improvements were evident in SF36 Role Physical, Pain, General Health, Vitality and Mental Health scales. Balance, grip strength, and flexibility were similar between groups. 22/28 on waitlist completed yoga. Among all yoga participants, significant (p<.05) improvements were observed in mean PCS, flexibility, 6-min walk, all psychological and most HRQL domains at 8 weeks with most still evident 9 months later. Of seven adverse events, none were associated with yoga.Conclusions—Preliminary evidence suggests yoga classes may help sedentary individuals with arthritis safely increase physical activity and improve physical and psychological health, and HRQL.Key Indexing