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M. Bellfjord1, M. EH Larsson2
1Region Västra Götaland, RPT, Department of Rehabilitation Närhälsan Clinic in Primary Care, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2Associate Professor, RPT, Regional Director Education, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Gothenburg, Sweden
Background: Society and healthcare face major challenges with the increase of reported stress- and anxiety related disorders It is important to create early, preventative efforts for people with stress and anxiety. MediYoga is a Mind-Body Intervention including specific mind-body techniques, which, today is offered at rehabilitation clinics, all over Sweden.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the treatment with MediYoga, as a group treatment, has effects on the stress levels, anxiety and depression symptoms and quality of life, compared to physiotherapy treatment as usual, among patients in Primary Care Rehabilitation with self-estimated stress-related symptoms.
Methods: A total of 55 patients with stress-related symptoms in Primary Care Rehabilitation, Gothenburg Sweden, were invited to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Nine patients declined and a total of 46 patients were randomized for the study; 23 to Intervention, MediYoga (MY) group and 23 to Control, Physiotherapy treatment as usual (PT) group. The MY group performed MediYoga practicing, for an 8-week period, one hour a week. The control group were allocated to Physiotherapy, treatment as usual. Primary outcome was the Swedish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Secondary outcomes were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and EuroQol -Visual Analog Scale (EQ -VAS). Thoraxic excursion was the only physical measurement, aiming to measure the extent of chest expansion or mobility at the level of the xiphoid process. The difference between inhale and exhale was measured with a tape measure, two times, and the largest difference was registrated.
The primary- and the secondary outcomes, were analysed using mixed effects linear models with a random intercept. All data was collected at baseline one week before start, at 8 and 20 weeks after study start:
The primary- and the secondary outcomes, were analysed using mixed effects linear models with a random intercept. All data was collected at baseline one week before start, at 8 and 20 weeks after study start:
Results: Of the 46 patients included (44 women, and 2 men) there were 23 patients remaining at 8 weeks follow-up and, at 20 weeks follow-up, there were still 10 patients remaining in each group. For the primary outcome, PSS, there was a group over time effect advantaging MedYoga over Physiotherapy (p = 0.06). For secondary outcomes this was also seen in HADS anxiety (p = 0.01) and EQ-VAS (p = 0.03). There was a trend in the group over time effect advantaging MedYoga in HADS depression (p = 0.07).
Conclusion(s): For people suffering from stress-related symptoms, according to this study, although there was a large drop out in both groups, we could recommend MediYoga.
Implications: As a physiotherapist you could be more selective when you recommend patients with different kinds of problems to take part in a MediYoga group. Patients with stress and anxiety could get an improvement, if they suffer from more depressive symptoms, they do not get an equally clear improvement. In the future, we can hopefully give patients better advice on what type of treatment, gives the best effect for their specific stress-related problems.
Funding, acknowledgements: The Local Research and Development Board for Gothenburg and Södra Bohuslän
Keywords: MediYoga, Physiotherapy, Stress
Topic: Mental health
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Region Västra Götaland,
Committee: The Regional Ethics Review Board in Gothenburg , Sweden
Ethics number: Dnr: 658-16
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
