Transforming Self-Perception: The Long-Term Effects of Specialized Yoga on Body Image and Self-Esteem in Spinal Cord Injury Patients
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Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) greatly affects not only physical capabilities but also psychological welfare—an adjustment that is normally experienced with body image disturbance and decreased self-esteem. More often than not, current rehabilitation programs do nothing to reverse this specific psychological dysfunction. Yoga, because of its integral approach, has been embraced as one of the interventions that may further improve the situation.
Objective: To assess the long-term impact of a specialized yoga program on body image and self-esteem in a group of patients with spinal cord injury.
Methods: This was a longitudinal, mixed-method study that conducted its research at Patanjali Wellness Centre in Haridwar, India, on 60 SCI patients, who were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group, which received yoga treatment, and a control group, which received standard care. The yoga group practiced a tailor-made yoga program three times a week over 6 months. Quantitative data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at follow-up using the Body Image Scale (BIS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) belonging to the participants. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, and thematic analysis was used for the analysis of the data.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in body-image and self-esteem, which were sustained up to 6 months (p < 0.01). Changes in these variables were not significant in the control group. Participants also reported the yoga intervention to be empowering and change indicating.
Specialised yoga brings rather tangible benefits to the body image and self-esteem of SCI sufferers; its inclusion in the programs of medical rehabilitation could be considered as a measure for the purpose of holistic recovery and improvement in quality of life. There is a need to further study the broader psychological impacts and refine these interventions.