Examining the Effectiveness of Asynchronous Versus Synchronous Yoga for Veterans With Chronic Pain

Last updated: May 7, 2025
Sponsor: Portland VA Medical Center
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Pain

Chronic Pain

Treatment

Synchronous Teleyoga

Pain-Sensitive Teleyoga Primer

Asynchronous Teleyoga

Clinical Study ID

NCT06973876
6392 / 24-75
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • U.S. Veteran enrolled at VAPORHCS and has established care with a VA medical ormental health provider.

  • Diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain, confirmed by electronic health record reviewand 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, andvideo interventions.

  • Meets physical readiness, assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and approved for yoga participation by their primary care team or physicaltherapy 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

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to read and write in English.

  • Unable to freely give informed consent.

  • Recent (past 3 months) psychotic symptoms consistent with a diagnosis ofschizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or other psychoticdisorder and unrelated to PTSD. Assessed by medical record review and provider team.

  • Practicing yoga regularly defined as weekly or biweekly practice of 60 or moreminutes for 6 months or more.

  • Recent (past 3 months) history of suicidal gesture related to physical pain oractive suicidal ideation (plan, intent, means).

  • Concurrently enrolled in another research protocol involving a pain focusedintervention.

  • Upcoming surgery that would impact yoga practice.

  • Active alcohol/other substance abuse or dependence (unless actively engaged intreatment). Assessed via the The Tobacco, Alcohol, prescription medication and otherSubstance use Tool (TAPS). A cutoff of 2 will be used to rule out.

  • Joint replacement within the past 12 months.

Study Design

Total Participants: 100
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: Synchronous Teleyoga
Phase:
Study Start date:
January 10, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
September 30, 2025

Study Description

The overarching goals of the proposed research are to pilot test feasibility and acceptability of a 5-session primer to the mindful practice of pain-sensitive teleyoga and its impact on subsequent teleyoga practice delivered either synchronously or asynchronously. The research will also test the preliminary effectiveness of teleyoga practice on outcomes related to chronic pain, mental health, and quality of life.

  • Aim 1: Assess acceptability and feasibility of trial methodology to inform future larger-scale trials.

  • Aim 2: Use intent-to-treat analysis and random effect regression models to compare changes in pain interference, pain severity, physical function, quality of life, depression, and anxiety between participants who attend synchronous vs. asynchronous teleyoga.

The primary purpose of a pilot study is to assess feasibility of methods to inform future larger studies. However, inferential analyses may be appropriate to help ascertain estimates of variability for the primary and secondary outcomes that can be used to power larger trials. To that end, we will use intent-to-treat procedures and random effect regression models to compare changes in the outcome variables between patients who receive asynchronous vs. synchronous teleyoga.

Hypothesis: We predict that asynchronous teleyoga will be non-inferior to synchronous teleyoga in reducing the primary outcome of pain interference, as well as across secondary outcomes

Connect with a study center

  • Portland VA Medical Center

    Portland, Oregon 97239
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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