The Effects of a Virtual Yoga Program on Patients With Chronic Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research is being done to determine if remote yoga-based exercise can help reduce chronic pain. It will include three virtual research visits. This cohort study will include three remote research visits and an online questionnaire administration. In addition, participants will attend 8 weekly virtual yoga sessions with a daily 30-minute homework assignment of 30 minutes of video-guided yoga practice.

Official Title
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The Effects of a Virtual Yoga Program on Patients With Chronic Pain

Conditions
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Chronic Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Yoga Based Daily Excercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: chronic pain for > 6 months' duration on stable doses of medication prior to entering the study and agree not to change medications or dosages (or CAM treatments) during the trial have an average pain score of 4/10 or greater over the previous week at least mild degree of sleep disturbance, defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score >5 are able to speak and understand English have access to a computer or tablet at home and have an email address are not currently engaged in a rigorous daily exercise routine (>5X/week) are willing and physically able to participate in virtual yoga-based exercise Exclusion Criteria: currently under active cancer treatment (chemo, infusion, ongoing radiation) acute osteomyelitis or acute bone disease current diagnosis of chronic systemic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus present or past diagnosis of schizophrenia, delusional disorder, psychotic disorder, or dissociative disorder that would be judged to interfere with study participation pregnancy any clinically unstable systemic illness judged to interfere with exercise treatment a pain condition requiring urgent surgery an active addiction disorder, such as cocaine or IV heroin use, that would interfere with study participation contraindications to yoga (e.g., severe back or neck injury or surgery) regular meditation practice or other meditative practice (e.g tai-chi, meditative form of yoga or contemplative prayer) for >20 min/week in the past 2 years participating in any other therapeutic trial other medical condition that would interfere with ability to exercise

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Yoga Based Daily Excercise<br>Subjects will be trained to perform 30 minutes of moderate level yoga daily, with instruction on breathing, self-awareness, and ways to modify poses to avoid pain. Subjects will be instructed in use of the email links to access the 30-minute instructive video. Subjects will attend weekly Zoom classes to learn additional postures and techniques, which will be reflected in their 30 minutes video (i.e. a new video for each week). At these weekly remote yoga classes, they will be asked about difficulties encountered and given advice about their personal home practice. | Behavioral: Yoga Based Daily Excercise<br>* Subjects will be trained to perform 30 minutes of moderate level yoga daily, with instruction on breathing, self-awareness, and ways to modify poses to avoid pain. Subjects will be instructed in use of the email links to access the 30-minute instructive video. Subjects will attend weekly Zoom classes to learn additional postures and techniques, which will be reflected in their 30 minutes video (i.e. a new video for each week). At these weekly remote yoga classes, they will be asked about difficulties encountered and given advice about their personal home practice.<br>|
| No Intervention: Usual Care<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Interference | Change in Pain as assessed by Brief Pain Inventory. Scored 0-10, with higher scores indicating worse outcome. | 6 month follow up | 
| Anxiety | Change in Anxiety as assessed by Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short form for anxiety Scored 7-35, with higher scores indicating worse outcome. | 6 month follow up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Catastrophizing | Change in pain catastrophizing as measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale Scored 0-52, with higher scores indicating worse outcome. | 8 weeks,6 month follow up | 
| Perceived Stress | Change in perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale Scored 0-40, with higher scores indicating worse outcome. | 8 weeks,6 month follow up | 
| Mindfulness | Change in mindfulness as measured by the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire short form Scored 24-120, with higher scores indicating better outcome. | 8 weeks,6 month follow up | 
| Pain Intensity |  | 8 weeks, 6 month follow up | 
| Sleep |  | 8 weeks, 6 month follow up |