Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Background The objective was to assess the feasibility of a prenatal yoga randomized controlled trial (RCT) for gestational low back pain (LBP), mobility, and maternal well-being. Methods In this pilot, women aged 18 to 39 years with uncomplicated pregnancies at 12 to 26 weeks were randomized, strat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Global Advances in Health and Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956119870984 |
| _version_ | 1818912508220538880 |
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| author | Selma C Holden MD, MPH Brad Manor PhD Junhong Zhou PhD Chloe Zera MD Roger B Davis ScD Gloria Y Yeh MD, MPH |
| author_facet | Selma C Holden MD, MPH Brad Manor PhD Junhong Zhou PhD Chloe Zera MD Roger B Davis ScD Gloria Y Yeh MD, MPH |
| author_sort | Selma C Holden MD, MPH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The objective was to assess the feasibility of a prenatal yoga randomized controlled trial (RCT) for gestational low back pain (LBP), mobility, and maternal well-being. Methods In this pilot, women aged 18 to 39 years with uncomplicated pregnancies at 12 to 26 weeks were randomized, stratified by presence of LBP, to attend a weekly yoga class or a time-matched educational support group for 12 weeks. Sample size was based on anticipated enrollment of 2 subjects per month. Primary outcomes were measures of feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes included LBP disability, pregnancy symptom burden, childbirth self-efficacy, instrumented gait, balance, and falls at baseline, every 4 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. Results From April 2015 to December 2015, 168 women were contacted and 115 (68%) were eligible. Twenty women enrolled (N = 11 yoga; N = 9 control; mean gestational age 20.2 weeks). Retention at 12 weeks was 81% in yoga and 77% in control. There were no yoga-related adverse events. Exploratory analyses show no differences in back pain disability between groups. Significant groups effects were found on biomechanical assessments, including percentage change in gait speed ( F = 4.4, P = .04), double support time ( F = 23.6, P < .01), instrumented timed-up-and-go ( F = 8.6, P < .01), and turn time ( F = 5.7, P = .02) suggesting clinically relevant improvements with yoga. Pregnancy Symptom Inventory (PSI) scores improved (13.1 point difference, 95% confidence interval, 5.1–21.1) at 12 weeks in yoga compared to control, adjusted for baseline gestational age. Conclusion Conducting an RCT of prenatal yoga to improve gestational LBP and maternal well-being is feasible and safe. While no differences in back pain were observed, biomechanical measures were sensitive assessments for evaluating gestational LBP-related mobility impairment and showed group differences. Additionally, the PSI showed significant differences in symptom burden over 12 weeks, supporting the ongoing claims that yoga improves a pregnant woman’s overall well-being. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:15:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43f185cd4af243908adcf318c4ec62b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2164-9561 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:15:42Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Advances in Health and Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-43f185cd4af243908adcf318c4ec62b62022-12-21T20:02:06ZengSAGE PublishingGlobal Advances in Health and Medicine2164-95612019-08-01810.1177/2164956119870984Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot StudySelma C Holden MD, MPHBrad Manor PhDJunhong Zhou PhDChloe Zera MDRoger B Davis ScDGloria Y Yeh MD, MPHBackground The objective was to assess the feasibility of a prenatal yoga randomized controlled trial (RCT) for gestational low back pain (LBP), mobility, and maternal well-being. Methods In this pilot, women aged 18 to 39 years with uncomplicated pregnancies at 12 to 26 weeks were randomized, stratified by presence of LBP, to attend a weekly yoga class or a time-matched educational support group for 12 weeks. Sample size was based on anticipated enrollment of 2 subjects per month. Primary outcomes were measures of feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes included LBP disability, pregnancy symptom burden, childbirth self-efficacy, instrumented gait, balance, and falls at baseline, every 4 weeks, and 6 weeks postpartum. Results From April 2015 to December 2015, 168 women were contacted and 115 (68%) were eligible. Twenty women enrolled (N = 11 yoga; N = 9 control; mean gestational age 20.2 weeks). Retention at 12 weeks was 81% in yoga and 77% in control. There were no yoga-related adverse events. Exploratory analyses show no differences in back pain disability between groups. Significant groups effects were found on biomechanical assessments, including percentage change in gait speed ( F = 4.4, P = .04), double support time ( F = 23.6, P < .01), instrumented timed-up-and-go ( F = 8.6, P < .01), and turn time ( F = 5.7, P = .02) suggesting clinically relevant improvements with yoga. Pregnancy Symptom Inventory (PSI) scores improved (13.1 point difference, 95% confidence interval, 5.1–21.1) at 12 weeks in yoga compared to control, adjusted for baseline gestational age. Conclusion Conducting an RCT of prenatal yoga to improve gestational LBP and maternal well-being is feasible and safe. While no differences in back pain were observed, biomechanical measures were sensitive assessments for evaluating gestational LBP-related mobility impairment and showed group differences. Additionally, the PSI showed significant differences in symptom burden over 12 weeks, supporting the ongoing claims that yoga improves a pregnant woman’s overall well-being.https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956119870984 |
| spellingShingle | Selma C Holden MD, MPH Brad Manor PhD Junhong Zhou PhD Chloe Zera MD Roger B Davis ScD Gloria Y Yeh MD, MPH Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study Global Advances in Health and Medicine |
| title | Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study |
| title_full | Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study |
| title_short | Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study |
| title_sort | prenatal yoga for back pain balance and maternal wellness a randomized controlled pilot study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2164956119870984 |
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