Integrating Mindfulness-Based Yoga Practices in the Psychological Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Background: SCI represents a disabling injury that leads to disruption of bodily functions, psychological makeup, low resilience, increased anxiety, and a lack of SOC. Most traditional rehabilitation programs leave the psychological issues unaddressed. The practice of mindfulness-based yoga promotes holistic approaches and may enhance both physical and psychosocial functioning in persons with SCI. However, only a few studies specifically investigated the long-term psychological resilience and SOC effects of yoga in this population.

Objective: The present longitudinal study investigates the effects of a tailored mindfulness-based yoga intervention on psychological resilience and SOC in SCI patients over a period of six months.

Methods: The study was conducted at Patanjali Wellness Centre, Haridwar, India, and enrolled 60 SCI patients who were randomized to either intervention, comprising mindfulness-based yoga, or a control group comprising standard care. Yoga was imparted to the participants of the intervention group three times a week for six months. SOC was measured by the SOC-13 scale, and psychological resilience by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Measurements were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and at six months of follow-up. Qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews and focus groups gave supplementary information on psychological benefits arising from the program.

Results: Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in SOC and psychological resilience, maintaining the benefits even after six months of follow-up, at p < 0.01. Enhanced self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal empowerment were found in qualitativeresults.

Conclusion: Mindfulness-based yoga practices augment the standard rehabilitation program in SCI patients by enhancing psychological resilience and strengthening SOC. These findings suggest that such practices, if integrated into standard rehabilitation protocols, may have better long-term mental and emotional recoveries and improvement in the quality of life for SCI patients. Further studies are necessary to understand their broader psychological effects and fine-tune these interventions for various patient populations.