Yoga for the management of pain and sleep in rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility of a relaxation‐based yoga intervention for rheumatoid arthritis, designed and reported in accordance with Delphi recommendations for yoga interventions for musculoskeletal conditions. Methods Participants were recruited from a hospital database, and randomized to either eight weekly 75‐min yoga classes or a usual care control. Feasibility was determined by recruitment rates, retention, protocol adherence, participant satisfaction and adverse events. Secondary physical and psychosocial outcomes were assessed using self‐reported questionnaires at baseline (week 0), week 9 (primary time point) and week 12 (follow‐up). Results Over a 3‐month period, 26 participants with mild pain, mild to moderate functional disability and moderate disease activity were recruited into the study (25% recruitment rate). Retention rates were 100% for yoga participants and 92% for usual care participants at both weeks 9 and 12. Protocol adherence and participant satisfaction were high. Yoga participants attended a median of seven classes; additionally, seven of the yoga participants (54%) reported continuing yoga at home during the follow‐up period. No serious adverse events were related to the study. Secondary outcomes showed no group effects of yoga compared with usual care. Conclusions A relaxation‐based yoga programme was found to be feasible and safe for participants with rheumatoid arthritis‐related pain and functional disability. Adverse events were minor, and not unexpected from an intervention including physical components. This pilot provides a framework for larger intervention studies, and supports further exploration of yoga as a complex intervention to assist with the management of rheumatoid arthritis.