A Study on the Effect of Mindfulness-based Yoga on Youth With Persistent Concussion Symptoms

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, is of great concern in the youth population, with incidences of injury steadily increasing within the past few years. Current Canadian estimates have indicated that the total rate of concussions per 100,000 increased from 467 to 754 for boys and from 209 to 441 for girls from 2003-2010. As defined by the recent Zurich Consensus statement, concussion is a pathophysiological injury induced by biomechanical forces, which can be caused by impact to the head, neck or body. In 10-20% of youth, concussion symptoms persist in the weeks, months or even years following the injury. Consequently, youth with persistent concussion symptoms are unable to fully participate in the meaningful activities (e.g. attending school, engaging with friends and community) they did prior to the injury and experience a reduced quality of life. Persistent concussion symptoms in youth requires an approach that directly addresses the rumination and attention to distressful thoughts about their functional performance, while still promoting appropriate levels of physical and cognitive demands. Targeting these constructs may shift the focus away from symptoms, while building self-efficacy and enhancing participation in daily activities. Mindfulness-based yoga (MBY) is a mind-body intervention that uses physical yoga poses, purposeful breathing techniques and a focus on being in the present moment. MBY encourages participants to develop moment-to-moment awareness of physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts, and promotes the cultivation of non-judgemental and accepting relationships to personal experiences. In chronic pain, fibromyalgia, mental health and now TBI populations, MBY has demonstrated benefits in physical (i.e. increased muscle strength, endurance), psychological (i.e. decreased stress, increased self-efficacy), cognitive (i.e. increased concentration) and social (i.e. emotional regulation, improved mood) domains. Although mi