Yoga ‘as good as physio’ to end back pain misery

‘Able to be more physically active’

YOGA relieves lower back pain as effectively as physiotherapy, according to a study published last night.

Patients who went to weekly classes were in less discomfort, could exercise more and depended less on painkillers.

The trial involved 320 sufferers of lower back pain, who were either assigned to yoga sessions, physiotherapy or simply given information leaflets about their condition.

The classes stopped after 12 weeks but the patients were encouraged to carry on with the yoga at home.

Robert Saper, who led the research at Boston Medical Centre in the US, said: ‘We found that yoga was as effective as physical therapy for reducing pain intensity and improving people’s physical function.

‘We found that patients doing the yoga in the study reported that their pain intensity went down, that they were able to be more physically active. A number of patients were able to reduce or stop pain medication.

‘Our study shows that when yoga is made available and affordable to a diverse population, people of both sexes, people who are disabled, people of different races and economic backgrounds, are receptive to yoga and more importantly can benefit from it.’

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, added: ‘A structured yoga programme for patients with chronic low back pain may be a reasonable alternative to physical therapy depending on patient preferences, availability, and cost.’

In an editorial, published in the same journal, Dr Douglas Chang at the University of California at San Diego wrote: ‘In light of the complex factors affecting both diagnosis and outcomes in chronic low back pain, any single treat- ment approach is unlikely to prove helpful to all or even most patients. Nevertheless, as Dr Saper and colleagues have shown, yoga offers some persons tangible benefit without much risk.

‘In the end, however, it represents one tool among many.

‘Thoughtful physicians will try to determine what fits a patient’s anatomical diagnosis and psychosocial situation.’

Most cases of back pain are caused by lifting a heavy object badly, or bending awkwardly, and in most instances will go away within a few weeks. But half of patients see a recurrence of the problem within 12 months – and four in five suffer from it at some point in their lives.

The most common treatment is painkillers which are of limited value and can be addictive.

Yoga has been practised for more than 5,000 years, having developed in India as a system of gentle exercise, breathing techniques and light meditation.

It has become popular as a way to keep fit and remain calm amid the pressures of modern life.