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

Launched by PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · May 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether pre-recorded yoga videos can help veterans with chronic pain just as much as live online yoga sessions. The researchers want to find out if these videos are a practical option for managing pain and if they can be used more widely. Over four months, participants will take part in a five-session virtual yoga course, continue practicing yoga on their own or in a VA class for 12 weeks, and complete some online assessments and a brief interview at the end.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be U.S. veterans who are receiving care from a VA medical or mental health provider and have been diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain. They should have a moderate level of pain and be able to use video conferencing for the study. Other requirements include being able to move safely without assistance and meeting certain health guidelines. This study aims to provide valuable insights into how effective yoga can be for pain management, which could benefit many veterans in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 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
• 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 of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or other psychotic disorder and unrelated to PTSD. Assessed by medical record review and provider team.
• • Practicing yoga regularly defined as weekly or biweekly practice of 60 or more minutes for 6 months or more.
• • Recent (past 3 months) history of suicidal gesture related to physical pain or active suicidal ideation (plan, intent, means).
• • Concurrently enrolled in another research protocol involving a pain focused intervention.
• • Upcoming surgery that would impact yoga practice.
• • Active alcohol/other substance abuse or dependence (unless actively engaged in treatment). Assessed via the The Tobacco, Alcohol, prescription medication and other Substance use Tool (TAPS). A cutoff of 2 will be used to rule out.
• • Joint replacement within the past 12 months.