Perceptions of Post-Rehabilitation Adapted-Yoga: Qualitative Data from Two Stakeholder Groups

Research Objectives: To investigate the lived experiences of post-rehabilitation patients and referring clinicians in a community-based adapted-yoga class. .

Design: Community-engaged qualitative study

Setting: Local YMCA and rehabilitation clinics through a partnership with an academic institution

Participants: Participants were post-rehabilitation patients (19) with acquired brain injury who attended a community-based adapted-yoga class as part of the rehabilitation discharge and clinical rehabilitation therapists (14) who referred patients to the class.

Interventions: Patient participants attended community-based adapted-yoga class 1X/week for 12 weeks. The adapted-yoga class consisted of breath work, postures and guided relaxation. The adapted-yoga class was slowly progressive to include seated, standing, and supine postures. Clinician participants referred patients to the adapted-yoga class as part of discharge planning. All research subjects answered open ended questions about their experience with the adapted-yoga class in a semi- structured interview or a focus group.

Main Outcome Measures: The patient participants attended a semi-structured interview immediately after completing the 12-week adapted-yoga class and again at 12-week follow-up. The clinician participants attended a focus group meeting at their clinic after the participant data collection was finished. All data were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach.

Results: The clinician (n=14) focus-groups identified 3 primary themes in their reported experiences related to the adapted-yoga class: 1) Value of the opportunity to refer patients to adapted-yoga; 2) Patient hesitation to try the adapted-yoga class; and 3) Patient feedback about the adapted-yoga. The post-yoga participants (n=19) reported experiences that supported 4 primary themes: 1) Personal benefit from participating in adapted-yoga; 2) The hard/challenging parts of yoga; 3) Plans for continued exercise now that the adapted-yoga class is finished; and 4) Value of the adapted-yoga program for the community. The follow-up interviews (n=14) revealed 3 themes: 1) Long-term fitness plan and exercising since finishing the adapted-yoga class; 2) Adapted-yoga still impacting my life; and 3) Value of the adapted-yoga program.

Conclusions: Community-based adapted-yoga as part of the rehabilitation discharge plan may have value for both patient participants and referring clinicians.

Author(s) Disclosures: No disclosures