SRFP064: Krishnamacharya yoga as an intervention for pain in Bhutanese refugees

Jenna Ball, MD; Blessing Amune, MD

Abstract

Yoga-based therapies are effective at reducing pain syndromes and have demonstrated a positive effect among persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. While anecdotal reports suggest a beneficial effect, the effect of yoga on these outcomes in refugee populations is unknown. The objective of the study was to determine if Bhutanese refugees who participated in a 24-week study of yoga would have improved scores in acculturation and pain at the end of participation. This was a single group non-randomized pre-post pilot intervention study. Participants were United States-based Bhutanese refugees who were patients of the University of Kansas Family Medicine outpatient clinic. Inclusion criteria included people who had resettled in the US from refugee camps in Nepal within the past 4 years, who were currently residing in Kansas City, KS, and who reported experience of daily pain in more than 1 region of their body for at least the prior 6 months on a screening questionnaire. Both men and women were included at baseline, however only women participated in the pilot intervention. Exclusion criteria included fluency in English, non-ambulatory, and inability to provide oral consent. 19 men and 17 women were included in the survey at baseline. 17 women participated in the intervention. The average age of the women was 47. 16 women reported being in continuous pain on the baseline survey. The intervention followed the pattern of Krishnamacharya yoga which included weekly, 90-minute guided sessions over 24 weeks in the same community center. All intervention participations took part in the same intervention group simultaneously. There was no control group. Participants completed a survey at baseline including demographics, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, McGill Pain profile, Hopkins-Symptom Checklist, Multi-Cultural Acculturation index, and a weighted pain severity scale. Pain severity decreased substantially and significantly (p=0.0015), as did symptoms of anxiety and depression (p=0.0008 and p=0.0011 respectively). Perceived comfort acculturation to their host country also improved significantly (p=0. 0046). Based on these results, a large-scale study is needed to determine if yoga is an effective therapy for refugees experiencing chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Leave a Comment
Jack Westfall
jwestfall@aafp.org 11/21/2021

Great poster and abstract. Thanks for sharing at NAPCRG

Diane Harper
harperdi@med.umich.edu 11/22/2021

A demonstration would be awesome - Present your results in Phoenix next year! Thank you for sharing your work with NAPCRG!

William R. Phillips
wphllps@uw.edu 11/23/2021

A great study of a promising intervention for a most difficult clinical problem. Very promising work. Did this pilot study provide the parameters you need to plan that next step with the RCT? Is it time for this research to expand beyond this particular patient population? What will you select as the control arm for the RCT: Sham yoga, usual care, a specific alternative intervention? Hope you continue on this important line of inquiry. Thanks for sharing your work here at NAPCRG. - Bill Phillips

Andy Pasternak
avpiv711@sbcglobal.net 11/28/2021

Wondering why you specifically picked this form of yoga? Would any sort of physical activity help?

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