Effect of Rāja yoga Meditation on Psychological and Functional Outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

International Journal of Yoga, 2021 · DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_68_20 · Published: February 5, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Mental Health

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how a specific type of meditation, Easy Raja Yoga, affects the mental and physical well-being of individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It explores whether this meditation can help reduce psychological issues like anxiety and depression and improve functional outcomes in SCI patients. The study involved two groups of SCI patients: one receiving Easy Raja Yoga in addition to standard rehabilitation, and another receiving standard rehabilitation alone. Researchers then compared the changes in psychological distress and functional independence between the two groups. The results suggest that Easy Raja Yoga can indeed improve psychological and functional outcomes in SCI patients, potentially offering a complementary approach to traditional rehabilitation methods.

Study Duration

1 month

Participants

100 SCI patients (50 experimental, 50 control)

Evidence Level

Non-randomized controlled study

Key Findings

1
One-month of Easy Raja Yoga practice significantly decreased anxiety and depression scores (HADS) in the experimental group compared to the control group.
2
The meditation practice also led to a significant reduction in perceived stress levels (PSS) and pain (NPR) among SCI patients.
3
Easy Raja Yoga resulted in a significant improvement in functional independence (SCIM) and quality of life (WHOQOLBREF) scores compared to conventional rehabilitation alone.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effect of Easy Raja Yoga on psychological and functional outcomes in patients with SCI. The results showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, stress, pain, functional independence, and quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group. The study suggests that Easy Raja Yoga can be a useful complementary therapy for SCI patients, addressing psychological, social, and existential factors often overlooked in conventional rehabilitation models. Subgroup analysis revealed that both paraplegia and tetraplegia patients, as well as acute and chronic SCI patients, experienced significant improvements with Easy Raja Yoga, although the changes were more pronounced in paraplegia and acute SCI patients.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Integrate Easy Raja Yoga as a complementary therapy in SCI rehabilitation programs to address psychological distress and improve functional outcomes.

Research

Conduct further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods to validate the findings and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

Patient Care

Offer accessible and structured Easy Raja Yoga modules to SCI patients in both hospital and community settings to promote long-term well-being and independence.

Study Limitations

1
Non-randomized controlled trial design may introduce selection bias.
2
Reliance on self-rated scales (except SCIM) may be subject to social desirability bias.
3
Short-term study duration limits the assessment of long-term effects.

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