Yoga for Treating Shortness of Breath in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Phase 1

Conditions

Lung Diseases, Obstructive

Chronic Bronchitis

Pulmonary Emphysema

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Treatments

Behavioral: yoga

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00051792

R21AT001168-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of yoga in reducing shortness of breath in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients in this study must have moderate to severe COPD and be primarily limited by shortness of breath.

Full description

Management of dyspnea (shortness of breath) is a major concern for patients with COPD. The efficacy of complementary exercises to manage dyspnea is unknown. Complementary exercises may be more congruent with patients' lifestyles and values than traditional exercise programs and can be adapted to changes in illness severity and disability. Yoga practice is a complementary therapy that people use to manage their dyspnea. The aims of this study are to: 1) develop a safe and feasible yoga program for patients with COPD; 2) test the efficacy of this program; and 3) determine whether physical performance, psychological well being, and health-related quality of life are positively affected by yoga practice.

Patients in this study will be randomized to receive yoga training or usual care for 12 weeks. Patients will be evaluated at study entry, after each session, and immediately after the training program.

Sex

All

Ages

40+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Able to commit to a 12-week yoga class in San Francisco, California
Moderate to severe COPD, clinically stable for at least 1 month prior to study entry
Forced Expiratory Volume at one minute (FEV1) < 49% predicted after inhaled bronchodilator
Activities of daily living limited by shortness of breath
Ability to speak English and sign consent
Patients receiving supplemental oxygen will be acceptable if their O2 saturation can be maintained at > 85% on < 6 L/min of nasal oxygen

Exclusion criteria

Symptomatic illness (e.g., cancer, left heart failure, ischemic heart disease, neuromuscular disease, psychiatric illness)
Formal pulmonary rehabilitation training within 1 year prior to study entry