Yoga for Persons With Severe Visual Impairment (RPY)

Development of a Yoga Intervention for Symptoms Related to Severe Visual Impairment

This study aims to provide novel information on the feasibility of yoga interventions for secondary symptoms related to severe vision loss, such as sleep disturbances, negative mood states, fall risk and balance. This information will be important for determining safe, cost-effective and reliable practices for the benefits of yoga as an alternative means for improved health and well-being. A yoga intervention that is integrative and evidence-based will benefit the blind population through effective treatments and prevention of secondary symptoms as well as serve to inform rehabilitation specialists, educators, and clinicians in the future.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; Stress; Anxiety; Sleep Disturbance; Balance Impairment
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Yoga Intervention

Detailed Description

This study aims to provide novel information on the feasibility of yoga interventions for secondary symptoms related to severe vision loss, such as sleep disturbances, negative mood states, fall risk and balance. This information will be important for determining safe, cost-effective and reliable practices for the benefits of yoga as an alternative means for improved health and well-being. A yoga intervention that is integrative and evidence-based will benefit the blind population through effective treatments and prevention of secondary symptoms as well as serve to inform rehabilitation specialists, educators, and clinicians in the future.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
      • Lions Vision and Research Rehabilitation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18+
• Legal blindness (visual acuity worse than 20/200 but better than no/bare light perception, and/or visual field less than 20º, in the better eye)
• Any ocular disease diagnosis that is expected to remain relatively stable throughout a 3-6 month period
• Being healthy to the extent that participation yoga therapy would not exacerbate any existing disease conditions;
• Willingness to participate on a weekly basis for the 12-week intervention;
• Moderate to severe sleep disturbances, defined as ratings of 5 or greater on the PSQI

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant changes to vision within the most recent 3-month period
• Inability to understand study procedures or communicate responses to visual stimuli in a consistent manner
• Clinically diagnosed or clinically significant sleep disorder (e.g., sleep apnea) or a medical or psychiatric condition (e.g., chronic pain) responsible for sleep complaints;
• Use of prescription sleep medication more than once a week for duration of the study;
• Use of other psychotropic medication;
• Current recipient of sleep disorder treatment;
• Consumption of more than 2-3 alcoholic beverages per day
• Smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day;

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Yoga Therapy	Behavioral: Yoga Intervention; Three yoga classes per week for 8 weeks.; Other Names: Yoga, Ashtanga

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Static Balance	Measures will be assessed at baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the 8-week intervention at Week 8.	Week 0 and Week 8.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Stress Scale	Measures will be assessed at baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the 8-week intervention at Week 8.	Week 0 and Week 8
Profile of Mood States - Short Form	Measures will be assessed at baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the 8-week intervention at Week 8.	Week 0 and Week 8
Exit Survey	The exist survey is administered immediately after the intervention during Week 8.	Week 8
Fear of Falling Questionnaire	Measures will be assessed at baseline (Week 0) and immediately after the 8-week intervention at Week 8.	Week 0 and Week 8

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Treatment Validation	Three measures will be collected to assess the benefits of the AYT, compliance, fidelity of treatment and evaluate the participant's experience.; The Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS).; Practice/Homework Logs.; Treatment Fidelity.	Week 0, Week 4 and Week 8
Physical Function	Body Mass Index (BMI), systemic blood pressure, and respiratory rate, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and flexibility measures.	Week 0 and Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ava Bittner, PhD, OD, Johns Hopkins University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jeter PE, Haaz Moonaz S, Bittner AK, Dagnelie G. Ashtanga-Based Yoga Therapy Increases the Sensory Contribution to Postural Stability in Visually-Impaired Persons at Risk for Falls as Measured by the Wii Balance Board: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 24;10(6):e0129646. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129646. eCollection 2015.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): June 6, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 26, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2014
• Last Verified: May 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Sleep Wake Disorders; Eye Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Sensation Disorders; Dyssomnias; Parasomnias; Vision, Low; Vision Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: NA_00039032