International Journal of Yoga Therapy — No. 26 (2016) 93 Research Mindful Yoga Pilot Study Shows Modulation of Abnormal Pain Processing in Fibromyalgia Patients James W. Carson, PhD,1 Kimberly M. Carson MPH, eRYT,1 Kim D. Jones, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN,1,2 Lindsay Lancaster, PhD, RN,3 Scott D. Mist, PhD1,2 1. Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Portland, OR 2. Oregon Health & Science University, School of Nursing, Portland, OR 3. University of Portland, School of Nursing, Portland, OR Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract the average 40-year-old with fibromyalgia has fitness find- ings expected for a healthy 80-year-old (Jones, Rutledge, Published findings from a randomized controlled trial have Jones, Matallana, & Rooks, 2008; Jones, King, Mist, shown that Mindful Yoga training improves symptoms, Bennett, & Horak, 2011). Fibromyalgia has also been asso- functional deficits, and coping abilities in individuals with ciated with increased mortality (McBeth et al., 2009) and is fibromyalgia and that these benefits are replicable and can likely due in part to altered pain processing in the central be maintained 3 months post-treatment. The aim of this and peripheral nervous system (Jensen et al., 2009; Staud, study was to collect pilot data in female fibromyalgia Bovee, Robinson, & Price, 2008). Additional pathophysio- patients (n = 7) to determine if initial evidence indicates logic factors include genetic predispositions, autonomic that Mindful Yoga also modulates the abnormal pain pro- dysfunction, and emotional, physical, and environmental cessing that characterizes fibromyalgia. Pre- and post-treat- s t ressors (Clauw, Arnold, McCarberg, & Fi b r o ment data were obtained on quantitative sensory tests and Collaborative, 2011).