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| Year : 2019 | Volume
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| Issue : 3 | Page : 206-217 |
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| The impact of a daily yoga program for women with fibromyalgia |
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Asimina Lazaridou1, Alexandra Koulouris1, Kathleen Dorado1, Peter Chai2, Robert R Edwards1, Kristin L Schreiber1
1 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 3-Sep-2019 |
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 Abstract | | |
Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread pain, sleep disturbance, negative affect, and stress and is notably difficult to treat. Individuals with FM have lower physical activity and endorse fears that exercise may worsen pain. Gentle daily yoga practice may allow a gradual increase in activity and positively impact many of these FM symptoms. This qualitative study investigated the impact of participation in a pilot trial of group and daily individual home yoga intervention on women with FM. Materials and Methods: Fifteen individuals participated in telephone interviews after participating in the yoga intervention, which included semi-structured questions to elicit insights and impressions of their experience. Responses were systematically coded and themes identified. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) physical/body perceptual changes, (2) practices affecting pain, (3) emotional changes, (4) practice motivators and barriers, and (5) group effect. Participants not only reported reductions in FM symptoms, including pain and stress, but also a positive impact on mood, sleep, and self-confidence. Conclusions: Participants enumerated both physical and psychological impact of starting yoga practice. Specific helpful poses and practices and important barriers were identified. Group practice and social connection with others with other FM patients was an important benefit to participants.
Keywords: Fibromyalgia, pain, sleep, social support, stress, yoga
How to cite this article:
Lazaridou A, Koulouris A, Dorado K, Chai P, Edwards RR, Schreiber KL. The impact of a daily yoga program for women with fibromyalgia. Int J Yoga 2019;12:206-17 |
How to cite this URL:
Lazaridou A, Koulouris A, Dorado K, Chai P, Edwards RR, Schreiber KL. The impact of a daily yoga program for women with fibromyalgia. Int J Yoga [serial online] 2019 [cited 2023 Mar 20];12:206-17. Available from: https://www.ijoy.org.in/text.asp?2019/12/3/206/265742 |
| Introduction | |  |
Chronic painful musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia (FM) afflict millions of Americans and are associated with profound personal and societal consequence.[1] FM is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain,[2] sleep disturbance, fatigue, and psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, and impaired cognition,[3],[4],[5] all of which are known to compound the pain experience.[6] Given this complex combination of symptoms, it is not surprising that opioids have shown little long-term efficacy in treating FM. Holistic behavioral interventions may be better suited to address the full range of FM symptoms.[7] Such nonpharmacological, holistic approaches have proven acceptable to other chronic pain patients,[8] and have been used both in conjunction with conventional therapies, and as an alternative to them.[9] In particular, integrative therapies that involve exercise, stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques have shown promise in multiple chronic pain conditions.[10],[11] Yoga, which combines many of these techniques, has also shown efficacy in treating pain.[12],[13] Yoga has proven to reduce muscular tension and somatic complaints and improve fatigue, sleep, and mood.[14],[15] It has also been shown to increase uptake of pain-coping strategies,[16],[17] to alter body awareness and to increase pain acceptance.[18] Yoga is also associated with measurable adaptive biochemical changes, including restoration of cortisol awakening response.[19],[20],[21],[22],[23]
Several elements of yoga may address chronic pain and stress among women with FM. Focused breathing is associated with improved emotion regulation[24],[25] and meditation may improve symptoms in FM patients.[26] Past studies have noted that more traditional pain treatment regimens may pose anatomical and cultural barriers to women.[27] Conversely, women are significantly more likely than men to benefit from group-based movement therapies,[28] and studies show that FM patients, who are predominantly female, are willing to embrace yoga as a therapy.[8],[19]
This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences of FM patients who participated in a 6-week, pain-specific yoga program. The primary outcome of the quantitative study was pain and symptom reduction due to yoga practice. Specifically, we identified improvements in participants' daily pain ratings, fatigue, and quality of sleep. Reduction in pain catastrophizing was also noted and was correlated to improvements in FM symptoms. We observed that greater reductions in pain were associated with higher daily yoga practice at home, particularly in participants with >25 min of daily practice. In this qualitative analysis, however, we aimed to: (1) understand the aspects of the experience that patients found most meaningful and beneficial, (2) clarify the relative importance of group and solo practice, and (3) gain insight into important logistical and practical considerations in implementing yoga practice into the daily life of individuals with FM.
| Materials and Methods | | |
Setting, participants, and study design
This qualitative study occurred immediately following a nonrandomized pilot study exploring the quantitative effects of yoga on sleep, pain, and stress. Participants for the larger yoga study were recruited through advertising by physical flyers and a centralized clinical data registry. After completing the yoga program, all participants (n = 36) received an invitation via E-mail to participate in one-on-one interviews over the phone. Telephone call attempts were also made, with 14 participants unreachable, 7 declining participation, and 15 completing the phone interview.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this study. Participants for the larger yoga study were recruited through advertising by physical flyers and a centralized clinical data registry.
Participants were eligible for the parent yoga interventional study if they (1) were 18–75 years old; (2) had chronic pain with a diagnosis of FM for >6 months' duration and met the Wolfe et al. 2011 criteria for FM; (3) were on stable doses of medication prior to entering the study and agreed not to change medications or dosages or other treatments during the trial; (4) had an average pain score of 4/10 or greater over the previous week; (5) had at least mild degree of sleep disturbance, defined as Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score >5; (6) were able to speak and understand English; (7) had an E-mail address and access to a computer or tablet at home; (8) were not currently engaged in a rigorous daily exercise routine (>20 min/day and >5X/week); and (9) were willing and physically able to participate in yoga-based exercise. Participants were ineligible if they had: (1) active cancer treatment; (2) acute osteomyelitis or acute bone disease; (3) current diagnosis of chronic systemic inflammatory disease; (4) present or past diagnosis of schizophrenia, delusional disorder, psychotic disorder, or dissociative disorder that would be judged to interfere with study participation; (5) pregnancy; (6) unstable systemic illness judged to interfere with exercise treatment; (7) pain condition or injury requiring urgent surgery or treatment; (8) active addiction disorder that would interfere with study participation; (9) current regular meditative practice (e.g., Tai-Chi, meditative form of yoga or contemplative prayer) for >20 min/week; and (10) were participating in any other therapeutic trial.
Yoga study procedures
Potential participants for the parent interventional yoga study underwent initial telephone screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible participants were invited for a baseline research visit followed by a 6-week yoga program. Participants' attendance was logged at the start of each class, and adherence to home practice was monitored through weekly electronic questionnaires, sent via a secure online questionnaire (Redcap).
Satyananda yoga program
Individuals participated in a yoga program specifically adjusted for chronic pain patients for 6 weeks, led by a certified yoga teacher and PhD-trained scientist. Each weekly in-person session lasted 1.5 h and included asanas (postures, Pawanmuktasanas I and II), pranayama (breathing techniques), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation), and meditation techniques to facilitate the process of reconnecting body, mind, and emotions and to develop acceptance of and trust in one's own self. Postures were drawn from the beginner and intermediate Satyananda Yoga asana series.[29] Each class included the following sections: (1) settling the mind and body and establishing awareness (10 min); (2) asana (50 min); (3) pranayama (5 min); (4) Satyananda Yoga Nidra (15 min) [Appendix 1]. Participants were also sent daily 30-min yoga videos to practice at home. Satyananda Yoga is a traditional form of Yoga which includes Asanas, Pranayama (breathing exercises), Pratyahara (mind focusing practices), and meditation and has a gentle and less physically-demanding nature. The aim of Satyananda's holistic approach is to develop all areas of ones being: physical, mental, emotional, psychic, and spiritual, leading to a more harmonious state of being [Appendix 1]. Participants were encouraged to practice yoga at home after the intervention. FM patients were given a CD of Satyananda Yoga Nidra,[30] and a pamphlet detailing the postures and breathing exercises practiced during the 6 week intervention.
Qualitative interview process
Consenting participants were scheduled for a separate phone call. The interviews were conducted by the study coordinator, who was not involved in the teaching of yoga. Before conducting qualitative interviews, the telephone interviewer was trained in open-ended questions and facilitation of individual semi-structured interviews. The interviewer used a guide developed by the study team [Table 1] to conduct a 15–30-min semi-structured interview over the phone. Stem questions developed a priori by the study team were used, but latitude was granted to ask additional probes relating to each topic in the interview guide. In addition, several opportunities were provided throughout the interview for participants to provide their own, unprompted observations.
Data analysis
Extensive written notes detailing participants' responses were taken by the interviewer in real-time. These notes were then compiled and transcribed, and applied thematic analysis was performed.[31] Thematic analysis was chosen due to its flexibility, in which researchers identify relevant codes, and then group these into emergent themes based on their level of significance and frequency of occurrence throughout the data.[32] Two independent study team members individually read interview notes and identified codes within these interview data. For example, several comments referred to participants preferring poses that involved focus on improving their breathing. These comments and phrases were coded as “breathing benefits.” Codes were then read in aggregate by two additional reviewers, who had access to the original real-time interview notes. Group discussion between the two coders and the two additional reviewers addressed and reconciled discrepancies. During this discussion stage, codes were categorized, and themes emerged. The four criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were used to refine themes until thematic saturation was achieved.[33] Consideration of points of agreement, disagreement, and universality was taken into account, and major themes finalized.
| Results | | |
Interviewed participants (n = 15/34) were all female, Caucasian, aged 50 ± 14.3 years, 73% with college degree or higher. Pain and psychosocial measures at baseline were similar to previously reported samples of FM patients. Class participation was somewhat variable, with 5 participants attending all 6 classes, 6 attending 5 classes, 3 attending 4 classes, and 1 attending only 3 classes. At home, daily practice in between classes was similarly varied, with the self-reported median number of days practiced between classes was 4–5/5 (range of 3–5) and a reported median daily practice of 30 min (range 15–60). Interviews ranged in length from 15 to 30 min. The qualitative analysis of these interviews allowed the identification of five major themes regarding the experience of the participants in the study: (1) physical/body perceptual changes, (2) practices affecting pain, (3) emotional changes, (4) practice motivators and barriers, (5) Group effect (See [Table 2]).
Theme 1: Physical/body perceptual changes
Participants mentioned that they noticed physical changes as a result of doing yoga, including differences in their pain, body awareness, energy levels/endurance, stiffness, and breathing. For example, one participant reported improved body awareness:
“I became more conscious of my breathing and my body.”
In addition, a decrease in morning stiffness and increase in overall mobility were reported:
“It (yoga) helps to get the body moving again.”
Yoga broke some previously perceived physical barriers and allowed more physical potential:
“Yoga showed me that I could do more than I thought I could.”
“I realized that I can do more, that I can challenge myself.”
In regard to changes in their body capacity, participants reported increasing endurance and flexibility. Participants reported an increase in energy levels.
“Even now I do half hour of yoga in the morning, I notice a big difference in that day, I feel more alert.”
“…I am able to keep going during the day, I have more stamina.”
Changes in breathing and the impact of such changes on other aspects of life were noted:
“The breathing increased my lung capacity.”
“The breathing exercises come in handy when stuck in traffic.”
Participants reported sleep difficulties and noted that many previous remedies had not been effective in improving their sleep. Many reported that being in the program improved their sleep quality and latency:
“When I practiced the yoga or meditation before bed I would sleep faster.”
“I sleep deeper, my sleep quality is better!”
Theme 2: Practices affecting pain
There was variability in the extent to which pain decreased after the program, with some participants expressing more profound relief, although the majority expressed that pain decreased either during or after yoga, particularly in the area of maximum pain: “Today I do not have pain in my buttocks anymore, my primary pain site.”
A recurrent observation was that participants reported that the improvements in pain were gradual.
For participants who experienced pain as weight, or heaviness, they described a lightening of that pain:
“Oh, I am lighter.”
“There was no elephant sitting on my shoulder.”
With regard to the particular poses, participants' responses were divided into two categories: (i) practices extremely helpful for pain and (ii) less helpful practices/practices worsening pain. Most participants found stretching practices to be helpful for pain, including ankle and wrist bending (“Pawanmuktasanas”), palm tree pose, and warrior pose.
“Warrior pose – It felt like it was stretching everything.”
Poses that were more physically demanding or requiring a lot of flexibility were deemed as less helpful, as this sometimes meant that participants were unable to perform them. In some cases, performing the pose would cause pain. There was variability between individuals as to which specific poses were more challenging, but salutation to the sun and any poses involving knee bending were regarded as less beneficial.
“I was okay for the first part, but when I had to get on my knee I had trouble.”
However, they felt that the study staff provided enough guidance in how to modify poses for pain, through extra support by pillow or mat, alternate version of pose, or visualization rather than actual performance of pose, mentioned in class and videos.
Theme 3: Emotional and mental changes
Emotional and mental changes included improved mood, self-confidence, and decreased stress. Participants spoke about how yoga reduced stress and negative emotions, articulating that yoga practice helped them to relax and improve their mood. They described it as allowing them to detach themselves from these things.
“A step back from stress and pain.”
“I had a feeling of letting go and relaxing.”
“I think I felt happier.”
Participants who had not been previously exposed to yoga talked about their hesitancy to begin, as they were not sure if they could do it. However, participants noted gaining self-confidence in their body and an internal shift to their self-control.
“I felt better about myself because I was doing something to improve my pain symptoms.”
Participants also realized the importance of identifying and accepting their own limitations and working with and around them. One participant who had previously practiced yoga in more distant past but given it up after FM, noted:
“It (program) made me realize I can get back to practicing yoga while being aware of my limitations.”
Moreover, participants described gaining generally increased confidence, surprisingly going beyond the practice of yoga and encompassing other parts of life:
“I gained confidence in myself and my abilities.”
“I surprised the heck out of myself.”
Theme 4: Yoga practice motivators and barriers
The prevailing attitude of respondents was their determination to do their best and everything possible to improve their pain.
“It (yoga program) gave me some goals.”
“With the study I felt stronger.”
A feeling of pride and gratitude for having taken action toward healing was reported:
“You were feeling your body and trying to heal it.”
Participants had a desire for physical fitness, and yoga provided a way to do this in a flexible, more enjoyable way, where they could learn to make modifications for themselves.
“Yoga is the exercise I want to go home and do!”
They also found it encouraging practicing yoga in a nonjudgmental context.
“It was nice to know that there are others in this with me, and that they also had a hard time with some poses.”
Participants reported feeling worse when not practicing regularly.
“I need to do it at least every other day.”
Scheduling, transportation, lack of time, and competing priorities were listed as key barriers to attending regular yoga class, and to continuing to find the motivation to practice after the study.
Participants reported regularly practicing after the study was over, and 2/15 spontaneously mentioned that they signed up for formal weekly classes.
Theme 5: Group effect
One of the most prominent themes that emerged was the unique connection with the instructor and the other participants, and feeling accountable to them as drivers of effort.
“I loved the instructor… It made a big difference, and I did not want to disappoint the instructor by missing any of the classes.”
“It is better to do it with others, it makes you do it, you cannot stop it, it is like peer pressure in a good way.”
Participants enjoyed being in a group with others suffering from the same condition:
“I was always curious about others, but I didn't ask.”
“It was pretty inspiring. It made me feel normal.”
Despite the fact that participants did the yoga video alone at home, many of those interviewed believed that online yoga or video-led yoga was an important addition to the study, reminding and preparing them of what was to come in the next group session:
“The yoga videos were huge, they were very helpful… I could see the exercise demonstrated rather than read the instructions on paper.”
However, participants still expressed a strong preference for group practice over practicing alone at home using the yoga videos:
“I did it at home because I had to… I think it is nice to have others around if possible.”
| Discussion | | |
The themes that emerged from participants' individual responses to this pilot combination group/athome daily yoga intervention were wide ranging, and centered around important aspects of the lives of patients who suffer from FM, but also included information that addressed the actual practical uptake of this therapy in their lives. We identified these five key themes as a result of our analysis: (1) physical/body perceptual changes, (2) practices affecting pain, (3) emotional changes, (4) practice motivators and barriers, and (5) group effect.
Of great interest to FM patients, and their providers, is the potential for yoga to reduce pain, which is the most troubling symptom of FM. Complementary therapies have shown medium to large effect size in reducing pain for FM[9] and have demonstrated to both reduce clinical pain and improve function in nonspecific low back pain.[34] Some biochemical changes have been previously reported with institution of a yoga program, including changes in stress hormones.[19],[20],[21],[22],[23]
Participants in our study noted benefits specifically from yoga breathing practices (e. g pranayama), which have previously shown to improve cognition, anxiety, and increase parasympathetic activation.[35] Participants noted stress reduction, in agreement with previous studies demonstrating that yoga reduces perceived stress,[23],[36],[37],[38] with similar efficacy as other interventions such as relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, or dance.[39]
Participants reported an increase in self-confidence, as in a previous study.[40] Behavioral interventions such as yoga may empower patients to take an active role in altering their lifestyle habits, and overall, engendering a greater sense of agency. Yoga has previously been shown to modulate personality traits and promote self-growth.[14],[41]
The previous study indicates that moving one's body alongside others increases feelings of interpersonal connection.[42],[43] Similarly, we found that connection to the group fueled motivation and persistence, particularly in this group of people sharing the same diagnosis (FM) and yoga instructor, raising the possibility that the stigma of FM normally limits participation in group exercise and activity. A relatively greater importance of group practice and social connectedness was also clear in the noted preference of group over solo home practice. At the same time, the combination of online technology (videos) seemed to assist participants to adhere to the study intervention. The use of technological adjuvants is increasingly prevalent, with 8/15 studies using an online intervention in a recent review.[44]
This study has several limitations of note. First, its relatively small size potentially reduces generalizability. Second, participant inclusion in the parent study and poststudy interview was based on willingness and ability to physically attend yoga classes (self-selection bias), which may be limiting for many FM patients. However, a large multicountry internet-based study indicated that the majority of patients with FM view yoga positively and over half had previously attended at least one yoga class.[45] Third, interviews were conducted using a semi-structured format, which was not exhaustive in content, and may have potentially omitted important reactions of FM patients to yoga, and participation in the poststudy interviews was voluntary, thus potentially not comprehensive in representing the viewpoints of all participants. Nevertheless, this study provided significant insight into patients' individual experience with the present yoga program aiming at alleviating their FM symptoms. However, the qualitative analysis allowed us to explore subjective experiences that were not previously measured and can help us better understand individual needs of FM patients in regard to yoga practice and ways to improve the implementation of such therapies in the future in order to maximize benefit.
As uptake of yoga in FM is unlikely to be universal, and the availability may be limited, future research should focus on determining and predicting which participants are more likely to benefit from complementary therapies such as yoga, by using careful patient psychosocial and demographic phenotyping. Future larger-scale studies with such robust phenotyping of patients will help determine the potential of yoga to be implemented in a more widespread fashion, which could also be personalized to meet patients' individual needs, as a safe and cost-effective intervention for chronic pain.
Acknowledgment
This study was supported by a grant from the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital/HMS to Kristen L. Schreiber. We would like to acknowledge the participants of this study and thank them for their time, thoughtfulness, and honesty in this interview process.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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Correspondence Address:
Dr. Kristin L Schreiber
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_72_18
[Table 1], [Table 2] |
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