Effects of yoga and meditation on motor function, objective and subjective sleep in Parkinsons disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial investigates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of yoga and meditation on motor function and sleep outcomes in Parkinson disease patients. Parkinson disease a progressive neurodegenerative disorder often leads to sleep dysfunction with reduced efficiency while pharmacologic treatments cause side effects and limited non-pharmacologic options exist. This study addresses this gap by randomly allocating 30 patients (10 per group: yoga, meditation, control) with idiopathic PD (Hoehn-Yahr stage 1-3, age greater than equal to 45, stable medications) excluding comorbidities or prior yoga meditation practitioners.

Over 12 weeks, yoga and meditation groups receive twice-weekly 50-minute supervised sessions alongside routine care; yoga includes poses like mountain, warrior, and cobra; meditation features mindful breathing and mantras. The control group undergoes standard rehabilitation program. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and post-intervention: primary measures include motor function via Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score, objective sleep (actigraphy efficiency, total sleep time, latency, wake after sleep onset), and subjective sleep (PDSS). Secondary objectives evaluate feasibility and group comparisons.

Analysis uses paired t tests for within group changes, linear regression for between-group effects (controlling confounders like gender BMI, modifier medication), and descriptive statistics in SPSS. With a convenience sample of 30, this pilot draws from similar studies, prioritizing ethical consent and bias mitigation via validated tools. Expected outcomes include improved sleep motor function, informing targeted interventions with minimal risks (mild yoga discomfort) and societal benefits for elderly PD management.