Corjena Cheung

Effects of Yoga on Symptoms, Physical Function, and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adults with Osteoarthritis: A Focused Review.

ABSTRACTOsteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and disabling chronic condition. Because physical activity is a key component in OA management, effective exercise interventions are needed. Yoga is an increasingly popular multimodal mind-body exercise that aims to promote flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. Its gentle approach is potentially a safe and effective exercise option for managing OA. The purpose of this focused review is to examine the effects of yoga on OA symptoms and physical and psychosocial outcomes. A comprehensive search was conducted using seven electronic databases. Twelve reports met inclusion criteria involving a total of 589 participants with OA-related symptoms. A variety of types, frequencies, and durations of yoga interventions were reported; Hatha and Iyengar yoga were the most commonly used types. Frequency of intervention ranged from once a week to 6 days a week. Duration of the interventions ranged from 45 to 90 mins per session for 6 to 12 wks. Yoga intervention resulted in reductions in pain, stiffness, and swelling, but results on physical function and psychosocial well-being were inconclusive because of a variety of outcome measures being used.

The effect of Sit 'n' Fit Chair Yoga among community-dwelling older adults with osteoarthritis.

The study measured effects of Sit ‘N’ Fit Chair Yoga on pain and physical and psychological functioning. A quasi-experimental research design included a yoga intervention group and an attention control group. There was greater improvement in depression and life satisfaction in the yoga group than in the control group.

Adherence to a Yoga Program in Older Women with Knee Osteoarthritis

Yoga is beneficial for osteoarthritis (OA) management in older adults; however, adherence to yoga practice is unknown. The purposes of this secondary analysis were to examine: (1) yoga adherence during the intervention and follow-up periods; (2) the relationship between social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs and adherence; and (3) the impact of adherence on OA-related symptoms in 36 community-dwelling older women with knee OA. SCT was used as a framework to promote adherence to a yoga intervention program that included both group/homebased practices. Adherence to yoga was high during the intervention period but decreased over time. Although SCT was a useful framework for reducing attrition during the intervention, self-efficacy was the only construct that correlated with class attendance. Higher yoga adherence was correlated with improved symptoms, physical function, sleep quality, and quality of life. Yoga adherers were likely to be older, less educated, and had a lower body mass index than nonadherers.

Complementary/alternative medicine use for arthritis by older women of urban-rural settings.

Purpose: This study described the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) for arthritis management among community‐dwelling older women in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Data sources: A descriptive qualitative approach using focus group method was employed. A purposive sample of 50 women ages 66–101 who managed arthritis with CAM participated in eight semistructured focus groups: rural (n = 22), suburban (n = 17), and urban areas (n = 11). Data were transcribed verbatim. Inductive analytic process and computer software were used for data analysis. Conclusions: A wide variety of self‐help CAM were reported. Supplements were the most commonly used CAM across all locations; rural participants reported the greatest variety of CAM use. Physical symptoms, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, perceived safety and convenience of CAM, and a desire for personal control over ones health motivated CAM use. Most participants did not fully disclose their CAM use to their primary healthcare provider (HCP). Implications for practice: Results suggest a strong need for primary HCP to purposely dialogue with their clients on CAM use when designing, organizing, and delivering arthritis care. Information on safe CAM use and greater options for effective arthritis management with CAM are needed. The value of group‐based model for treating arthritis deserves further exploration.

Complementary/alternative therapies use in older women with arthritis: Information sources and factors influencing dialog with health care providers

The purpose of this study was to describe the information sources older women with arthritis use to make decisions about complementary/alternative therapies (C/AT), and factors that influence C/AT dialog with their HCP. The purposive sample included 50 community-dwelling older women (mean age = 77.8, SD = 7.6, range 66-101) who were using C/AT for arthritis management. Eight focus groups were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using both manual and computer-based (Atlas.ti) methods. Participants used a variety of C/AT for arthritis management. Most did not seek C/AT information from their health care provider (HCP) but primarily relied on family and friends as resources. Common themes that influenced C/AT dialog included collaborative patient relationship with HCP, HCP unsupportive attitudes toward C/AT and lack of C/AT knowledge, and time-limited clinic visits. Clinical implications include fostering shared decision making clinical relationships, increasing HCP knowledge about C/AT, initiating C/AT dialog and offering credible C/AT information sources.

Yoga Adherence in Older Women Six Months Post–Osteoarthritis Intervention

Background/Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent condition worldwide. Yoga is potentially a safe and feasible option for managing OA; however, the extent of long-term yoga adherence is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine yoga adherence 6 months after participants completed an OA intervention program. Methods: This follow-up study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design using survey, interview, and video recordings to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 31 participants completed and returned the survey, and 10 videotaped their yoga practice for 1 week and participated in a face-to-face interview. Results: A majority of participants (n=19, 61%) reported that they were still practicing yoga 6 months after the intervention program. On average, participants reported practicing 21 to 30 minutes of yoga per day (32%) 3 to 4 days per week (47%). “Feeling good or feeling better after yoga practice” (50%) and “set aside a time” (31%) were the most common motivating factors for yoga adherence. Dealing with health problems (42%), having pain (25%), and being too busy (25%) were the major barriers. Qualitative data revealed that participants: (1) used mindful yoga movement, (2) incorporated other forms of exercise and resources during yoga practice, and (3) created personalized yoga programs. Additionally, the participants reported less OA pain, increased physical endurance, and more relaxation. Conclusion: Many participants adhered to yoga practice 6 months post-intervention although not at the frequency and sequence as prescribed. Feeling better after practice motivated participants, but other factors remained key barriers.

Development and Evaluation of a Yoga Intervention Program for Parkinson's Disease

Preliminary research indicates that yoga could be a valuable tool for people suffering from Parkinsons disease (PD). However, little has been published about the process by which the yoga interventions were designed and evaluated. This study elaborates on the process of developing and testing a bi-weekly, 12-week yoga program to determine its safety and feasibility for people with PD. The lead yoga teacher used input from a focused literature review to design an initial draft of the intervention program. This draft was reviewed by a group of yoga experts ( n = 6) to develop the final intervention program. This 12-week intervention was implemented in 19 participants with PD (mean age 63 ± 8, range 49-75) via twice-weekly yoga classes. Through this comprehensive development process, a series of 24 individual 1-hour yoga sequences was created. These sequences included yoga postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and mindfulness meditation principles specifically chosen to address concerns unique to the PD population. The feasibility of the program was supported with excellent attendance: 90% of participants attended > 75% of the classes, with four participants attending 100%. No adverse events were reported. This development process produced a safe and enjoyable yoga program specific for the needs of people with PD. However, this methodology could serve as a template for future studies on how to develop safe and effective yoga interventions for other populations.