Are Therapists Able to Effectively Learn and Deliver Yoga Treatment?

A 2020 study says Yes.

The practice of yoga has become increasingly popular in the United States, with almost 36.4 million U.S. adults practicing yoga in 2016 (up from 20.4 million in 2012). The literature supports yoga for the treatment of back pain, chronic pain, posture, fall prevention and more. The positive health effects of yoga have led some physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) to integrate elements of yoga into their treatments in some settings. The issue is formal therapist education includes usually zero training in yoga, and, historically, there hasn’t been any established education on safely implementing yoga (TY) as an adjunct to therapy treatment. Despite this, therapists still report using yoga as an intervention. In one recent survey of physical therapists, 70.6% of PTs reported using yoga with their patients and said their knowledge on yoga integration was self-learned based on personal yoga practice. Only 29% reported their yoga education was obtained at yoga-specific workshops and trainings. Safety was a primary concern of many therapists when implementing yoga. These findings suggest the need for opportunities for PTs to gain education and training to help to bridge the gap between physical therapy and TY as an adjunctive approach for care.

With the anatomical and biomechanical educational background of therapists, it seems reasonable that a clinician could be efficiently taught how to safely and effectively prescribe yoga as an adjunct treatment to current clinical care. In 2020, Thompson and colleagues showed a 10 hour online training program does improve therapists’ readiness and confidence to understand and prescribe yoga, and do so safely. This is fantastic research, although I believe most clinicians will agree something is lost in the online format, especially when we are attempting to sharpen our patient interaction/clinical skills. (Who’s tired of Zoom after the last 2 years?!) So I created a 2 day, 15 hour hands on course to instill the same competence, understanding and prescription skill that this study purports. The evidence shows you can deliver even better therapeutic care through implementing yoga!

SOURCES:

1. Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance. (2016). 2016 Yoga in America Study. Retrieved from www.yogajournal.com/yogainamericastudy/

2. Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Haller, H., & Dobos, G. (2013). A systematic review and meta-analysis of yoga for low back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 29(5), 450–460. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e31825e1492

3. Holtzman, S., & Beggs, R. T. (2013). Yoga for chronic low back pain: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pain Research & Management, 18(5), 267–272.

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7. Carson, J. W., Keefe, F. J., Lynch, T. R., Carson, K. M., Goli, V., Fras, A. M., & Thorp, S. R. (2005). Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain: Results from a pilot trial. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 23(3), 287–304.

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9. Galantino, M. L., Bzdewka, T. M., Eissler-Russo, J. L., Holbrook, M. L., Mogck, E. P., Geigle, P., & Farrar, J. T. (2004). The impact of modified hatha yoga on chronic low back pain: A pilot study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 10(2), 56–59.

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11. Cherkin, D. C., Sherman, K. J., Balderson, B. H., Cook, A. J., Anderson, M. L., Hawkes, R. J., . . . Turner, J. A. (2016). Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction vs cognitive behavioral therapy or usual care on back pain and functional limitations in adults with chronic low back pain: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 315(12), 1240–1249. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.2323

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13. Thompson A, Huberty J, Eckert R, Taylor MJ, Ortiz A. Determining Physical Therapists' Readiness for Integrating Yoga Therapeutics into Rehabilitation. Int J Yoga Therap. 2020;30(1):77-88. doi:10.17761/2020-D-19-00040