Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

<bold>Aim: </bold>To investigate the efficacy of an embodied mindfulness-based movement programme (MiYoga), targeting attention in children with cerebral palsy (CP).<bold>Method: </bold>Total number of participants 42, with 24 boys (57.1%) and 18 girls (42.9%); mean age 9y 1mo, SD 3y; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I=22, II=12, III=8) and their parents were randomized to either MiYoga (n=21) or waitlist comparison (n=21) groups. The primary outcome was attention postintervention measured by the Conners' Continuous Performance Test, Second Edition (CCPT). Secondary outcomes included parent and child mindfulness, child quality of life, parental well-being, child executive function, child behaviour, child physical measures, and the parent-child relationship.<bold>Results: </bold>Children in the MiYoga group demonstrated significantly better attention postintervention than the waitlist comparison group, with lower inattention scores on the hit reaction time standard error (F1,33 =4.59, p=0.04, partial eta-squared [ηp2]=0.13) variable and fewer perseveration errors (F1,33 =4.60, p=0.04, ηp2=0.13) on the CCPT. Intention-to-treat analysis also revealed that sustained attention in the MiYoga group was significantly better than in the waitlist comparison group postintervention (F1,37 =5.97, p=0.02, ηp2=0.14). Parents in the MiYoga group demonstrated significantly decreased mindfulness (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale; F1,33 =10.130, p=0.003, ηp2=0.246).<bold>Interpretation: </bold>MiYoga offers a lifestyle intervention that improves attention in children with CP. MiYoga can be considered as an additional option to standard rehabilitation to enhance attention for children with CP.<bold>What This Paper Adds: </bold>MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness-based movement programme, can enhance attention (more attentive and consistent performance) in children with cerebral palsy. MiYoga had no significant effect on physical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]