A randomized controlled trial examining Iyengar yoga for young adults with rheumatoid arthritis: a study protocol.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, disabling disease that can compromise mobility, daily functioning, and health-related quality of life, especially in older adolescents and young adults. In this project, we will compare a standardized Iyengar yoga program for young people with rheumatoid arthritis to a standard care wait-list control condition.


METHODS
Seventy rheumatoid arthritis patients aged 16-35 years will be randomized into either the 6-week Iyengar yoga program (12 - 1.5 hour sessions twice weekly) or the 6-week wait-list control condition. A 20% attrition rate is anticipated. The wait-list group will receive the yoga program following completion of the first arm of the study. We will collect data quantitatively, using questionnaires and markers of disease activity, and qualitatively using semi-structured interviews. Assessments include standardized measures of general and arthritis-specific function, pain, mood, and health-related quality of life, as well as qualitative interviews, blood pressure/resting heart rate measurements, a medical exam and the assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Data will be collected three times: before treatment, post-treatment, and two months following the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study will provide critical data on non-pharmacologic methods for enhancing function in rheumatoid arthritis patients. In particular, results will shed light on the feasibility and potential efficacy of a novel intervention for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, paving the way for a larger clinical trial.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01096823.
Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. SuEvans@mednet.ucla.edu
Subhadra
S
Evans
Laura
L
Cousins
Jennie Ci
JC
Tsao
Saskia
S
Subramanian
Beth
B
Sternlieb
Lonnie K
LK
Zeltzer
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D015141:Los Angeles; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
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