The Effects of Yoga on Aphasia Rehabilitation

Yoga therapy is currently recognized as a complementary and alternative medicine, providing benefit to individuals with a variety of disorders. Research has shown that yoga can improve emotional states, improve cognition, and encourage neuroplasticity. This study aims to explore the potential relationship between yoga therapy and language restoration for individuals with aphasia due to stroke. A single subject experimental pretest-post-test design was implemented with skilled yoga therapy as the intervention technique. A single participant was assessed using the Western Aphasia Battery – Revised (WAB-R; Kertesz, 2006) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF; World Health Organization, 2004) prior to and following intervention. Data analysis yielded mixed results with an improvement in WAB –R scores and a decline in WHOQOL – BREF values. The case study limits the generalizability of results, but improvement in post-test language assessment and positive feedback from the participant suggests that further research is warranted to examine the ameliorative effects of yoga therapy on aphasia rehabilitation.