title: Iyengar yoga for young adults with rheumatoid arthritis: results from a mixed-methods pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that often impacts patient's quality of life. For young people with RA, there is a need for rehabilitative approaches that have been shown to be safe and to lead to improved functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study investigated the feasibility of a single-arm, group-administered, six-week, biweekly Iyengar yoga (IY) program for eight young adults with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  IY is known for its use of props, therapeutic sequences designed for patient populations, emphasis on alignment, and a rigorous teacher training. Treatment outcomes were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach that combined quantitative results from standardized questionnaires and qualitative interviews with participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial attrition was 37% (n=3) after the first week because of scheduling conflicts and a prior non-RA related injury. However, the remaining participants (n=5) completed between 75% and 100% of treatment sessions (mean=95%). No adverse events were reported. The quantitative results indicated significant improvements in pain, pain disability, depression, mental health, vitality, and self-efficacy. Interviews demonstrated improvement in RA symptoms and functioning but uncertainty about whether the intervention affected pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings indicate that IY is a feasible complementary approach for young people with RA, although larger clinical trials are needed to demonstrate safety and efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pain Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA. suevans@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Subhadra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moieni
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Saskia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Jennie C I
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternlieb
authors.forename: Lonnie K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Zeltzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga