Comparing the Effects of Yoga Nidra to Yoga Nidra With Pain Acceptance Intention and Motor Imagery on Pain Outcomes

Comparing the Effects of Yoga Nidra to Yoga Nidra With Pain Acceptance Intention and Motor Imagery on Pain Outcomes

Yoga Nidra is a scripted mind-body intervention (MBI) that uses guided relaxation technique in a reproducible sequence of mechanisms that naturally produce a parasympathetic response. This is a randomized controlled trial in which participants will be randomly assigned to one of three interventions: 1) yoga nidra (Yoga Nidra Script Basic), 2) yoga nidra with pain acceptance (Yoga Nidra Acceptance Intention), 3) yoga nidra with pain acceptance and Explicit Motor Imagery (Yoga Nidra Acceptance Intention and Visualization).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic pain in the neck, low back, shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, or ankle that has lasted for over three months
• Pain intensity rated as 3/10 or higher in the past 24 hours (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable)

Exclusion Criteria:

• non-English speaking
• systemic medical conditions that affect sensation (such as uncontrolled diabetes)
• History of surgery or fracture within the past six months
• any blood clotting disorders (such as hemophilia)
• any contraindication to the application of ice (blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg, cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, circulatory compromise)
• Exceed pressure and heat sensory thresholds
• Unable to access internet or email
• Pregnant