Effects of Yoga Therapy in Rehabilitation Compared to Physiotherapy in Moderate Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA)

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Yogatherapy: The experimental arm will benefit from support by a physiotherapist trained in yoga, in a group for ten weeks with two weekly sessions of approximately 1 hour each. A new yoga program adapted for the axSPA will be implemented.

Physiotherapy: The comparator arm will benefit from support by a physiotherapist, in groups for ten weeks at the rate of two weekly sessions of approximately 1 hour each. An already existing program adapted for the axSPA will be implemented.

Study summary

A few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of yoga therapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA). On the other hand, studies conducted in other chronic rheumatisms such as low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions such as cancer have shown that yogatherapy can have a effective action on the physical and psychological level.

Yogatherapy is a non-drug "body-mind" approach that would be likely to improve the physical symptoms (pain, stiffness, in particular spinal and pelvic), internal organs (colitis) and psychological symptoms as well as the perception of fatigue of people with axSPA. A 2021 study showed the feasibility and acceptability of regular yogatherapy practice in patients with axSPA.

It is therefore necessary to conduct randomized controlled studies to assess the effectiveness of this management strategy.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Evolution of the axSPA global activity score (fatigue, pain, stiffness) — Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit.
  Change in the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) score, via a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the "activity" of the disease (6 items, max score = 100, the higher the score the more disabling the disease).

Trial sites (5)

More Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris trials in France