Examining the Effectiveness of Asynchronous Versus Synchronous Yoga for Veterans With Chronic Pain

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Chronic Pain, Yoga

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to see if pre-recorded yoga videos are as helpful for chronic pain as online yoga sessions taught in real time. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are pre-recorded yoga videos an acceptable and practical tool and could they be used more broadly? Are pre-recorded yoga videos no worse than online yoga sessions taught in real time for managing chronic pain? Researchers will compare changes in chronic pain, mental health, and quality of life outcomes for participants who attend pre-recorded yoga videos versus online yoga sessions taught in real time. Over the course of 4 months, participants will: Attend a 5-session virtual yoga course. Continue virtual yoga practice for 12-weeks on their own or in a VA online class. Complete 3 online assessments and a brief exit interview.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06973876

Run by

Portland VA Medical Center

People needed

98

Starts

2025-06-20

Expected to finish

2026-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• U.S. Veteran enrolled at VAPORHCS and has established care with a VA medical or mental health provider.
• Diagnosed with musculoskeletal pain, confirmed by electronic health record review and phone screening.
• Has an average pain severity of at least 4 in the past 3 months, assessed by items 1-5 of the Brief Pain Inventory, Short Form.
• Aged 18 or over.
• Capable of using video teleconferencing to complete enrollment, assessment, and video interventions.
• Meets physical readiness, assessed by questions during screening and approved for yoga participation by their primary care, physical therapy, or provider team.
• Able to sit and stand from the floor without assistance
• Able to ambulate community distances without an assistive device
• Intact sensation in lower extremities below the knees

You may not qualify if…

• Unable to read and write in English.
• Unable to freely give informed consent.
• Recent (past 3 months) psychotic symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or other psychotic disorder and unrelated to PTSD. Assessed by medical record review and provider team.
• Practicing yoga regularly defined as weekly or biweekly practice of 60 or more minutes for 6 months or more.
• Recent (past 3 months) history of suicidal gesture related to physical pain or active suicidal ideation (plan, intent, means).
• Concurrently enrolled in another research protocol involving a pain focused intervention.
• Upcoming surgery that would impact yoga practice.
• Active alcohol/other substance abuse or dependence, excluding tobacco/nicotine and marijuana (unless actively engaged in treatment). Assessed via the The Tobacco, Alcohol, prescription medication and other Substance use Tool (TAPS). A cutoff of 2 will be used to rule out.
• Joint replacement within the past 12 months.

Where it is running

• Portland VA Medical Center — Portland, Oregon, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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