Respiratory, physical, and psychological benefits of breath-focused yoga for adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI): a brief pilot study report.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study was designed to identify the potential benefits of breath-focused yoga on respiratory, physical, and psychological functioning for adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Ten individuals with severe TBI who self-selected to attend weekly yoga classes and 4 no-treatment controls were evaluated.


METHODS
Participants were assessed at pretreatment baseline and at 3-month intervals for a total of 4 time points over 40 weeks. Outcomes of interest included observed exhale strength, ability to hold a breath or a tone, breathing rate, counted breaths (inhale and exhale), and heart rate, as well as self-reported physical and psycho-logical well-being.


RESULTS
Repeated within-group analyses of variance revealed that the yoga group demonstrated significant longitudinal change on several measures of observed respiratory functioning and self-reported physical and psychological well-being over a 40-week period. Those in the control group showed marginal improvement on 2 of the 6 measures of respiratory health, physical and social functioning, emotional well-being, and general health. The small sample sizes precluded the analysis of between group differences.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides preliminary evidence that breath-focused yoga may improve respiratory functioning and self-perceived physical and psychological well-being of adults with severe TBI.
University of San Francisco, USA. silverthorne@usfca.edu
Colin
C
Silverthorne
Sat Bir S
SB
Khalsa
Robin
R
Gueth
Nicole
N
DeAvilla
Janie
J
Pansini
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012119:Respiration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015013:Yoga