A Multisite Randomized Feasibility Trial of a Remotely Delivered Pelvic Yoga Program for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Objective: Yoga has been recommended as a complementary management strategy for women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), but many women lack access to specialized yoga instruction for this indication, and few data are available to evaluate changes in CPP with yoga. This feasibility trial evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of a remotely delivered yoga program for CPP in women and examined data quality and interpretability for measures of pelvic pain intensity and impact with yoga instruction. Methods: Ambulatory women with CPP were recruited from northern California in 2020-2022 and randomly assigned to a 2-month program involving twice weekly group classes delivered by videoconference supplemented by individual practice of pelvic yoga techniques versus a control program involving equivalent-time instruction and practice of nonspecific skeletal muscle stretching-strengthening exercises. Diaries, questionnaires, and in-class observations assessed intervention adherence and self-efficacy as well as CPP intensity and impact. Results: Among the 36 participants randomized (aged 27-77 years), the average (±standard deviation) baseline pelvic pain intensity was 4.2 (±2.0) (0-10 scale). Thirty-one (86%) completed the 2-month intervention programs, and 27 (75%) attended more than 85% of intervention classes. Among participants completing the yoga program (N = 16), 14 (87%) reported being at least moderately confident about performing all yoga postures after 2 months. Thirty (83%) provided pain intensity data at 2 months. Average pelvic pain intensity "at its worst" and "on average" were 1.9 (±1.6) and 1.1 (±1.4) points lower, respectively, after 2 months in this yoga group. Yoga participants also reported improvements in scores in the emotional, occupational, and psychological domains of the Impact of Female Chronic Pelvic Pain Questionnaire. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a videoconference-based yoga program and collection of pain-related data among women with CPP, paving the way for future research to rigorously evaluate its specific efficacy in representative samples of women. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04615247.