Efficacy of personalized yoga rehabilitation on quality of life in survivors of extensive burns: A pilot matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND

Extensive burn survivors often face severe joint dysfunction, hypertrophic scarring, and psychological trauma, which seriously compromise their quality of life. This pilot study evaluated outcomes associated with adding a personalized, phased yoga rehabilitation program to standard rehabilitation care.

METHODS

This study enrolled survivors of extensive burns (TBSA ≥ 50%) who received rehabilitation at our institution between January 2022 and June 2025. Participants were categorized into a "Yoga Group" or a "Standard Care Group" based on whether they received yoga rehabilitation. Outcomes included joint range of motion (ROM), Barthel Index (BI), Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Within-group improvements were analyzed for the Yoga Group. For inter-group comparison, 1:1 case-control matching was performed based on Cutaneous Functional Unit (CFU) scores and time post-injury.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients were included (Yoga: 13; Standard Care: 51). In addition to standard rehabilitation, the Yoga Group received a median of 6.0 months (IQR: 5.5-9.0) of the personalized yoga rehabilitation program. Post-yoga, significant within-group improvements were observed in major joint ROM (shoulder flexion: 101.25° ± 58.35° vs. 149.17° ± 26.10°, P = 0.009; hip flexion: 73.33° ± 37.44° vs. 110.83° ± 23.14°, P = 0.011), scar condition (POSAS score: 80 ± 20 vs. 55 ± 14, P < 0.001), activities of daily living (Barthel Index: 35 [25, 40] vs. 95 [90, 100]), balance function (BBS: 1 [0, 21] vs. 56 [56, 56], P < 0.001), and mental health status. After case-control matching, the Yoga Group demonstrated significantly superior scar recovery compared to the Standard Care Group (POSAS score: 57 [54.5, 58.5] vs. 71 [64.5, 85.5], P = 0.021), as well as significantly lower BDI-II scores (8 [3.5, 11.5] vs. 16 [13, 19], P = 0.015) and higher BBS scores (56 [56, 56] vs. 56 [44.5, 56], P = 0.095).

CONCLUSION

In this pilot study, participation in a personalized, phased yoga rehabilitation program was associated with better scar quality and fewer depressive symptoms in matched comparisons. The program may provide a feasible adjunct to standard rehabilitation by addressing both the physical and psychological dimensions of recovery.