Yoga Alleviates Chronic Back Pain
September 23rd, 2009
People with chronic low-back problems who do yoga also do better at overcoming pain and depression than people treated conventionally for back pain, according to a new West Virginia University study.
The three-year study, which appears in the September issue of the journal Spine, showed lifted mood, less pain and improved function in the group that did yoga postures compared with a control group who received standard medical therapy.
“The yoga group had less pain, less functional disability and less depression compared with the control group,” says Kimberly Williams, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Community Medicine. “These were significant and clinically important changes that were maintained six months after the intervention.”
The 90 study subjects, who experienced mild to moderate functional disability, were randomly assigned to the yoga group or the group that received conventional medical therapy. Yoga participants took 90-minute classes twice a week for 24 weeks, doing postures targeted to relieve chronic low-back pain. Follow up continued for six months after the end of classes or therapy.
“Proponents of yoga have long described its benefits in reducing back pain,” Williams said. “But not everybody was convinced. This is a much bigger, much more rigorous evaluation than had been done before.”
The classes were taught by certified Iyengar yoga instructors. A popular form of yoga in the United States, Iyengar yoga emphasizes postures that encourage strength, flexibility and balance.
In the United States, low-back pain represents the largest category of medical reimbursements, with $34 billion in direct medical costs reported annually, Williams said.
Acupuncture therapy, when combined with yoga, can aid in reducing back pain. Acupuncture for acute back pain can also prevent a chronic condition from developing and minimize reoccurrence.
Acupoints are selected at both local pain sites and distal points away from the pain area to treat the condition. Acupuncture stimulates production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which can aid in decreasing inflammation.
Acupuncture can be integrated into conventional care for back pain or may be utilized as a primary therapy. Individuals receiving acupuncture for low back pain can often reduce their intake of pain medications.
For information about acupuncture for the treatment of back pain call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
One Response to “Yoga Alleviates Chronic Back Pain”
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