Can Yoga Give Relief From Back Pain
A British University study recently reported that Yoga could be more effective than normal healthcare in
providing back pain relief for long term sufferers of lower back pain Yoga can be described as a healing
system of theory and practice. It is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation
that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. The research, funded by Arthritis Research UK,
indicated that yoga could offer a reduction in chronic lower back pain over and above that offered by
conventional back pain treatment although definite conclusions could not yet be drawn from the exercise.
In the study, researchers randomly assigned 313 adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain to a yoga
program or standard care regime over a 3 month period. Outcome measures included Roland-Morris
Disability Questionnaire (RMDG) scores, pain and general health measurements after three months and
again at six and 12-month follow-ups. The results showed that the yoga group had better back function at
3, 6, and 12 months than the usual care group. The adjusted mean RMDQ score was 2.17 points (95% CI,
1.03 to 3.31 points) lower in the yoga group at 3 months, 1.48 points (CI, 0.33 to 2.62 points) lower at 6
months, and 1.57 points (CI, 0.42 to 2.71 points) lower at 12 months. The yoga and usual care groups had
similar back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months, and the yoga group had higher pain self-
efficacy scores at 3 and 6 months but not at 12 months. It was noted that two of the 157 usual care
participants and 12 of the 156 yoga participants reported adverse events, mostly increased pain. In addition
there were missing data for the primary outcome (yoga group 21) and usual care group18) and differential
missing data (more in the yoga group) for secondary outcomes. The conclusion drawn was that offering a
12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in
back function than did conventional healthcare, but that further research was necessary before concrete
conclusions could be drawn. Dave Pegg is Director of LumbaCurve, manufacturer of back pain relief
devices.
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