Remote Delivery of Mindful Movement Within Healthcare Systems: Lessons Learned From the Veterans Health...

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Telehealth and Digital Health
• Veteran Healthcare

Background:

• Mindful Movement programs are increasingly adopted within the Veterans Health Administration (VA).
• Telehealth innovations were prioritized to serve rural veterans and overcome access barriers.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual delivery for health and well-being practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share lessons learned from the virtual delivery of mindful movement within VA clinical and well-being programs.
• To explore the benefits and challenges associated with telehealth for mindful movement.
• To inform the integration of virtual mindful movement into broader healthcare services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative review of experiences with virtual mindful movement delivery in VA settings.
• Analysis of benefits including convenience, accessibility, and home practice translation.
• Identification of challenges related to technology, teacher training, and safety.

Main Results:

• Virtual care offers convenience, reduced travel burden, and improved accessibility for adaptive movement.
• Telehealth facilitates home practice and enhances interoceptive skills, boosting self-efficacy.
• Key challenges include technological barriers, specialized teacher training needs, and ensuring physical/psychological safety.

Conclusions:

• Virtual mindful movement can be a valuable tool for enhancing veteran health and well-being.
• Integration into existing care models (e.g., diabetes, pain management) shows promise.
• Addressing identified challenges is crucial for high-quality, accessible virtual care delivery.