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Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA)YOKISPANCT06083090

Effects of Yoga Therapy in Rehabilitation Compared to Physiotherapy in Moderate Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA)

A study testing Yogatherapy and Physiotherapy in people with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA), run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris at 5 sites in France.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

A few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of yoga therapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA). On the other hand, studies conducted in other chronic rheumatisms such as low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions such as cancer have shown that yogatherapy can have a effective action on… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA)
What is being tested?
Yogatherapy and Physiotherapy
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
72 participants
Where
5 sitesFrance
Study dates
27 Aug 2024to 27 Aug 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • French-speaking patient aged 18 and over
  • Patient with axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA) according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society, diagnosed by a rheumatologist
  • "Moderately active" to "active" form of axSPA (basic BASDAI \> 3)
  • Stable disease: No recent or foreseeable introduction in the next 6 months of drug treatments for axSPA (excluding analgesics)
  • Absence of disabling stress urinary incontinence
  • Geographical or organizational possibility of undergoing the study
  • Patient informed and having signed the informed consent form for participation in the research

Who cannot join

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Recent childbirth (within the last six months)
  • Patient already practicing yoga or having practiced it in the last six months
  • Abdominal or spinal surgery in the last six months
  • Motor neurological deficit
  • Sphincter deficit
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Any other somatic pathology preventing the practice of physiotherapy or yogatherapy according to the opinion of the evaluating clinician
  • Depressive syndrome requiring specific treatment
  • Non-affiliation to a social security scheme (beneficiary or beneficiary) or to another social protection scheme
  • Patient deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision or under legal protection (guardianship, safeguard of justice)
  • Currently participating in or in a period of exclusion from: another interventional research involving human participants, a clinical trial on a medical product for human, a clinical investigation on a medical device. Participation in non-interventional research is authorized.

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

5 sites in 1 country

France5 sites, 3 recruiting
  • Hôpital Avicenne

    Bobigny, 93000

    Nathalie SAIDENBERG-KERMANAC'H, +1 48 95 54 44 ext. +33, nathalie.saidenberg@aphp.fr

    Recruiting
  • Hôpital Henri Mondor

    Créteil, 94000

    Active, not recruiting
  • Hôpital Henri Mondor

    Créteil, 94010

    Laura PINA-VEGAS, 1 49 81 47 04 ext. +33, laura.pinavegas@aphp.fr

    Recruiting
  • Hôpital Pitié Salpetrière

    Paris, 75013

    Active, not recruiting
  • Hôpital Cochin

    Paris, 75014

    Olivier FOGEL, 1 58 41 25 63 ext. +33, olivier.fogel@aphp.fr

    Recruiting

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Effects of Yoga Therapy in Rehabilitation Compared to Physiotherapy in Moderate Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA): a Randomized Controlled Multicenter Study.

A few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of yoga therapy in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA). On the other hand, studies conducted in other chronic rheumatisms such as low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions such as cancer have shown that yogatherapy can have a effective action on the physical and psychological level.

Yogatherapy is a non-drug "body-mind" approach that would be likely to improve the physical symptoms (pain, stiffness, in particular spinal and pelvic), internal organs (colitis) and psychological symptoms as well as the perception of fatigue of people with axSPA. A 2021 study showed the feasibility and acceptability of regular yogatherapy practice in patients with axSPA.

It is therefore necessary to conduct randomized controlled studies to assess the effectiveness of this management strategy.

Read the detailed description

The term axial spondyloarthritis (axSPA) encompasses various inflammatory diseases of the spine, including ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSPA).

axSPA is a chronic inflammatory joint disease affecting the axial skeleton. It is the second cause of chronic inflammatory rheumatism and affects 0.5 to 2% of the general population. It generally affects young adults, with a male predominance (2 men for 1 woman).

axSPA can lead to physical consequences (fatigue, pain, stiffness, with in particular serious damage to the spine causing functional impairment, etc.) and psychological consequences (anxiety, depression). It is responsible for a disability and a mediocre quality of life with, moreover, a significant socio-economic impact. In France, it is one of the long-term illnesses and may require heavy treatment.

The medicinal therapeutic side, taken care of by rheumatologists specializing in this pathology, has evolved a lot (from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] to anti-tumor necrosis factor [anti-TNF] and anti-interleukin 17 [anti-IL 17]), allowing notable improvements. It is now a question of also developing the non-drug therapeutic side, to contribute to improving the quality of life, thus meeting the demand of patients with chronic diseases.

Information and therapeutic education occupy an important place, with results in favor of an improvement in the management of these diseases.

The recommendations emphasize that the non-pharmacological treatment of axSPA should include regular physical exercise, that individual and group physical therapy sessions should be considered as well as self-exercises.

Several randomized controlled trials have shown that physical therapy with various modalities has positive effects on pain and AS function. Physical therapy therefore also seems to play an important role in the management of patients. It prevents stiffness and improves functional capacity and quality of life.

Physical therapy should be initiated as soon as axSPA is diagnosed and regular exercise should form the basis of management. The review by Zochling et al. as well as a systematic review showed that exercises have positive effects on BASFI, BASDAI functions, pain and mobility. A Cochrane review on the role of physiotherapy interventions in SPA also concluded that physical therapy was beneficial. Physical activity, self-exercises and physiotherapy are part of the 2022 recommendations of the French Society of Rheumatology. Beneficial effects on disease activity were observed in axSPA, with good tolerance for intense exercise.

Recently an Indian team evaluated the effectiveness of online yogatherapy with 60 min structured modules on patients with axSPA for 3 months, with a significant improvement in the BASDAI score.

Being tested
Yogatherapy, Physiotherapy
Keywords
Yogatherapy, Ankylosing Spondyloarthritis, Physiotherapy, Yoga, Rheumatism
Medical subject headings
Axial Spondyloarthritis, Spondylitis, Ankylosing, Rheumatic Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • YogatherapyProcedure or surgery

    The experimental arm will benefit from support by a physiotherapist trained in yoga, in a group for ten weeks with two weekly sessions of approximately 1 hour each. A new yoga program adapted for the axSPA will be implemented.

  • PhysiotherapyProcedure or surgery

    The comparator arm will benefit from support by a physiotherapist, in groups for ten weeks at the rate of two weekly sessions of approximately 1 hour each. An already existing program adapted for the axSPA will be implemented.

Study groups in NCT06083090
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
YogatherapyExperimentalRandomization of 36 patients in the yogatherapy group.
Receives: Procedure: Yogatherapy
PhysiotherapyActive comparatorRandomization of 36 patients in the physiotherapy group.
Receives: Procedure: Physiotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Evolution of the axSPA global activity score (fatigue, pain, stiffness)

    Change in the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) score, via a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the "activity" of the disease (6 items, max score = 100, the higher the score the more disabling the disease).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit.

Secondary outcomes (14)
  1. Evolution of the axSPA global activity score (fatigue, pain, stiffness)

    Change in the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) score, via a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the "activity" of the disease (6 items, max score = 100, the higher the score the more disabling the disease).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  2. Functional impact

    Change in self-assessment of functional capacity during daily tasks via the BASFI score (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis disease Functional Index) (10 items, max score = 10, the higher the score the more disabling the disease).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  3. Health-related quality of life

    Change in the patient's self-assessment via the generic SF-36 scale (Short Form-36 scale) (36 items, max score = 100, the higher the score the better the perception of quality of life).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  4. Anxiety and depression

    Change in the patient's self-assessment via the HAD scale (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) (14 items, max anxiety score = 21, max depression score = 21, the higher the score the more anxiety and depressive disorders are marked).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  5. Respiratory capacity

    Measurement of chest expansion.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  6. Spinal and axial mobility (maximum active amplitudes - sagittal plane)

    Change in measurement of maximum active amplitudes in orthostatism of the thoraco-lumbar spine in the sagittal (flexion/extension) plane.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  7. Spinal and axial mobility (degrees of kyphosis and lordosis)

    Change in measurement of the degrees of kyphosis and lordosis while standing.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  8. Spinal and axial mobility (maximum active amplitudes - frontal plane)

    Change in measurement of maximum active amplitudes in orthostatism of the thoraco-lumbar spine in the frontal (lateral inclinations) plane.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  9. Spinal and axial mobility (podobarometric treadmill)

    Change in measurement of the spatiotemporal analysis of gait on a podobarometric treadmill.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  10. Axial mobility

    Change in BASMI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index) score (5 items, max score = 10, the higher the score the more restricted the axial mobility).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  11. Follow-up of the therapeutic strategy

    Change in therapeutic strategy.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  12. Drug consumption monitoring

    Change in drug consumption.

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  13. Sleep quality

    Change in QESL score (Leeds Sleep Assessment Questionnaire) (10 visual analog scales, minimum = -50, maximum = 50, the higher the score the better the sleep).

    Measured: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit. Between the 2 month visit and the 11 month visit.

  14. Adherence to the practice of yogatherapy of patients randomized in this group

    Degree of adherence to the practice of yogatherapy collected through responses to a short self-questionnaire.

    Measured: After physical rehabilitation : at 5 month and 11 month visits.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Oct 2023
  2. Study start27 Aug 2024
  3. Primary completion6 Feb 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion27 Aug 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Multicenter, comparative, randomized study in two parallel groups (yogatherapy versus physiotherapy), of superiority.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
72 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06083090
Sponsor's protocol ID
APHP210998
Acronym
YOKISPA
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
21 Jul 2023
Last updated
1 Oct 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Datas are own by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, please contact sponsor for further information.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Yogatherapy and Physiotherapy in people with Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSPA), run by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris at 5 sites in France.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Petra PAREJO MARGALLO (+33 1 40 27 43 13, petri.parejo-margallo@aphp.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Evolution of the axSPA global activity score (fatigue, pain, stiffness) (time frame: Between the 2 month visit and the 5 month visit.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Oct 2025.

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