Examining the Effectiveness of Asynchronous Versus Synchronous Yoga for Veterans With Chronic Pain
The goal of this clinical trial is to see if pre-recorded yoga videos are as helpful for chronic pain as online yoga sessions taught in real time. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are pre-recorded yoga videos an acceptable and practical tool and could they be used more broadly? Are pre-recorded yoga videos no worse than online yoga sessions taught in real time for managing chronic pain? Researchers will compare changes in chronic pain, mental health, and quality of life outcomes for participants who attend pre-recorded yoga videos versus online yoga sessions taught in real time. Over the course of 4 months, participants will: Attend a 5-session virtual yoga course. Continue virtual yoga practice for 12-weeks on their own or in a VA online class. Complete 3 online assessments and a brief exit interview.
• U.S. Veteran enrolled at VAPORHCS and has established care with a VA medical or mental health provider.
• Diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain, confirmed by electronic health record review and phone screening.
• Has an average pain severity of at least 4 in the past 3 months, assessed by items 1-5 of the Brief Pain Inventory, Short Form.
• Aged 18 or over.
• Capable of using video teleconferencing to complete enrollment, assessment, and video interventions.
• Meets physical readiness, assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and approved for yoga participation by their primary care team or physical therapy team.
• Able to sit and stand from the floor without assistance
• Able to ambulate community distances without an assistive device
• Intact sensation in lower extremities below the knees