A Feasibility of Yoga and Self Control Intervention on Headache and Sleep Quality among Migraine Patients at Mahasarakham Hospital.

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental studywas to assess the  feasibility of  yoga  and  self  controlintervention on headache  and  sleep quality amongmigraine patients. Participants were patients withphysician-diagnosed migraine at least three monthsand agreed to participate the study. Participants wererecruited from Mahasarakham Hospital CommunityHealth Centers from March 2008 to November 2008.Sixty participants were randomly assigned to theintervention (n = 30) or to the control group  (n = 30).The intervention group received a combination of theusual care and the yoga and self control intervention.Guided by Houten & Mccordûs yoga headacheintervention,  participants were attended a yoga classfor 3 hours and provided with a yoga DVD and writtenguidance to practice yoga postures at home. Next, they were encouraged to practice yoga at home for30-45 minutes three to five times a week over 16weeks. The control group received usual care. Outcomemeasures were the IHS diagnostic criteria, self-reportdiary records, and sleep quality measure. They wereobtained at baseline and post-intervention.Descriptive statistics (e.g., percentage, mean),Chi-square, paired t-test, and independent  t-testwere used to analyze data.Findings revealed that only fifty-one participants(n = 29 for the intervention group and n = 22 forthe control group) were remained to complete post-intervention measures. There were significantdifferences in mean headache frequency and intensity,and sleep quality from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the intervention group. There was nosignificant difference in  mean headache durationbetween the intervention and control groups. Themajority of participants in the intervention grouppreferred the yoga and self control intervention. Abouttwo-third of participants (68%) in the interventiongroup were intended to pursue their own individualpaths of yoga and personal practice. In summary, theyoga and self control intervention was feasible andpromising in reducing headache frequency and intensityand improving sleep quality. This research studysuggests the promise of yoga and self controlintervention as an alternative strategy for improvedhealth outcomes among migraine patients. Furtherresearch with a larger sample, a longer period ofintervention, or different populations is recommended.