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Exciting MBI News! Mind Body Institute Home Community Programs Other |
 Back Care Yoga WORKS!!! In two randomized controlled studies published in the past year in the respected medical journals, Annuals of Internal Medicine and Pain, the use of yoga for the relief of back pain was shown to be more effective in reducing pain and improving back function than exercise and back education. Both studies recruited persons with a history of chronic low back pain who were new to yoga. In one study, yoga was compared to a similarly structured back exercise class designed for persons with chronic back pain. In the second study, participants were compared to a group who received back education information including home exercise suggestions. Persons who participated in the yoga classes achieved significantly greater pain relief, had improved back flexibility and reported less disability from pain. Yoga was also found to be associated with improved overall physical well-being. Both studies also found that persons using yoga reported needing less pain medication following yoga and that reduced pain and pain medication usage persisted at a three-month follow-up. Other studies of yoga in patients with chronic pain discovered that, in addition to reducing pain, yoga also reduced depression and anxiety and increased self-confidence in the patient's ability to cope with pain. Yoga has also been found to improve balance and reduce the risk of falling by improving hip mobility and leg strength. For the past year, MBI has been offering Back Care yoga for persons with back pain. This year we conducted a follow-up study about long term results. We were able to speak with 70% of persons who had taken the back yoga series. Of this group 70% said they were still practicing yoga and 97% reported that yoga had been helpful and would recommend yoga to others with back pain. When asked how yoga had helped, we learned that yoga reduced pain, improved flexibility and strength and reduced stress. The only negative side effect reported was muscle soreness and stiffness that improved once individuals learned how to do the yoga postures more effectively. This fall, MBI will begin conducting a research study to better understand how yoga improves back pain. The study will examine a number of factors that may explain how yoga improves back pain and continues to be beneficial over time. The study will be open to anyone registering for Back Care Yoga classes and will be ongoing throughout the next year. Participation in the study will require completing a set of questionnaires at the beginning and end of the yoga series and then answering a series of questions at a 6-week follow up. -------Dian Dowling, RN, MSN, FNP-C |
| This page last modified: October 09, 2007 | ||
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