The Effect of Mindset and Breathing Exercises on Physical and Mental Health in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury-A Pilot Feasibility Study

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility and efficacy of mindset and breathing exercises (Wim Hof Method (WHM)) on physical and mental health in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Ten individuals with SCI participated in this pilot study. These ten participants followed a 4-week WHM intervention, with one weekly group session in the rehabilitation center and daily practice at home using the WHM app. An in-person exit-interview was conducted post-intervention to collect qualitative information on participants' experiences, regarding the feasibility and effects of the intervention. Furthermore, tests and questionnaires were administered pre- and post-intervention to assess physical and mental health outcomes. Adherence to the weekly in-person meetings was excellent and no adverse events occurred. Physical and mental health outcomes in this small sample size showed some pre-post differences. This pilot feasibility study provides preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility and efficacy of the WHM, including mindset and breathing exercises, on physical and mental health of people with SCI. These results warrant a randomized-controlled trial, including cold exposure, of this novel intervention in people with SCI.

Keywords: Wim Hof Method; preventative medicine; secondary complications; spinal cord injury; spirometry.

Figure 1

Overview of the individual data at the pre-test (T1, x-axis) and post-test (T2, y-axis) for (A) Forced vital capacity (FVC), (B) Hyperventilation sumscore, (C) Mental health index (MHI-5), (D) Fatigue severity scale (FSS), (E) Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and (F) Hindrance of spasticity. High SCI: spinal cord injury at or above Th6; Low SCI: spinal cord injury below Th6; The diagonal line is the line of identity (loi): when the dot is on this line it indicates that the pre and post values are exactly the same. Favorable changes are seen when the dots are on the left side of the loi for the FVC, MHI-5 and on the right side of the loi for the hyperventilation sumscore, FSS, Global PSQI score, and hindrance of spasticity.