Six-month follow-up of a mindfulness yoga program, MiYoga, on attention, executive function, behaviour and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy

Abstract

Purpose A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a mindfulness-based yoga program, MiYoga, for cerebral palsy (CP) demonstrated improved attention in children and decreased mindfulness in parents post-intervention. This paper evaluates the retention of treatment effects at 6-months follow-up. Methods 42 children with CP and their parents participated in a RCT with two groups MiYoga (n = 21) and Waitlist control group (n = 21). Waitlist control participants were offered MiYoga following the post-intervention assessment. 23 out of 42 child-parent dyads from both groups completed follow-up assessment 6-months after completing MiYoga. This paper evaluates and reports data from both groups collapsed (n = 23; MiYoga n = 11; and waitlist control n = 12; 47.8% male; mean age = 9:10 ± 2.4 years) to assess retention from post-MiYoga to follow-up and pre-MiYoga to follow-up. The primary outcome was attention, measured by Conner’s Continuous Performance Test II (CCPT). Secondary outcomes included child executive function, physical function, behaviour, quality of life, child and parent mindfulness, personal wellbeing, psychological wellbeing and parent-child relationship. Results Paired t-tests showed no significant changes between post-MiYoga to follow-up and pre-MiYoga to follow-up for variables that showed an intervention effect immediately after MiYoga, namely, children’s attention variables and parent’s mindfulness. Paired t-tests showed that children’s executive function and physical function and parent’s wellbeing improved significantly from pre-MiYoga to 6-months follow-up which may potentially reflect sleeper or delayed effects of MiYoga. Conclusion This study identified possible delayed or sleeper effects in children’s executive function and physical function and parent’s well-being. Implications for rehabilitation 6-month follow-up evidence for retention of effects of MiYoga on children’s attention was inconsistent; therefore, booster sessions or continued practice of MiYoga as a lifestyle option are needed to maintain an effect on attention. Because MiYoga can be practised during daily activities, it may provide additional support for children with CP, complementing standard rehabilitation options. By embedding mindfulness in children and parents’ daily activities, MiYoga, could provide families with accessible and time-efficient means of learning and practicing mindfulness.