The Impact of Periprocedural Yoga Therapy on Patients Receiving Interventional Procedures for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a prevalent condition in the United States, and multimodal treatment approaches are the hallmark of management. Yoga therapy is a targeted, systematic approach for treating patients with specific conditions, using focused breathing and relaxation techniques. The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the impact of yoga therapy on periprocedural pain, anxiety, and satisfaction in patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional procedures.

A total of 36 voluntary subjects participated in this prospective study. Nineteen had a yoga therapist guide them through periprocedural yoga therapy techniques, and 17 underwent the procedure without a yoga therapist. Periprocedural vital signs and pre- and postsurvey responses relating to patient-reported severity of pain, anxiety, and satisfaction were collected and compared between the two groups.

The mean difference in Visual Facial Anxiety Scale anxiety rating of patients receiving yoga therapy was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.11 to -0.12, p = 0.029) points lower than that of patients without therapy. The mean difference in Numeric Rating Scale-10 pain score of patients receiving yoga therapy was 1.93 (95% CI: -3.78 to -0.07, p = 0.042) points lower than that of patients without therapy, controlling for procedural sedation. There were no significant differences in vital signs or overall patient satisfaction (Patient Global Impression of Change-7) following the procedure.

In patients with chronic pain undergoing interventional procedures, participation in yoga therapy may be associated with a significant reduction in periprocedural anxiety and pain. Further investigation through a randomized controlled trial is necessary to verify these preliminary findings.

Yoga therapy may be considered in a multimodal approach to perioperative pain and anxiety management.