A Comparative Study of the Effects of Yoga, Naturopathy, and Conventional Medical Treatment in Managing Low Back Pain

Abstract

Yoga, regarded as an art, science, and philosophy, encompasses various dimensions of human existence, including the physical, mental, and spiritual realms. Its potential for enhancing life's purpose and nobility is noteworthy. Patient expectations in the context of treatment outcomes, particularly for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies, remain inadequately explored. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of three distinct interventions—Yoga, Naturopathy, and Conventional medical management—in alleviating pain, reducing disability, enhancing spinal mobility, and improving the quality of life in individuals with low back pain. Ninety participants were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly divided into three groups. The first group (group 1) received Yoga intervention, the second group (group 2) received Naturopathy treatments, and the third group served as the control (conventional medications). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Flexion Test-Finger to Floor Test (FTFT) results, and Quality of Life (QOL) were assessed at baseline and after a 10-day intervention period for all groups. Overall comparisons between the groups, utilizing ANOVA, revealed marked differences in pain severity, disability index, daily functional capacity, and Quality of Life (QoL) improvements following respective interventions. Substantial improvements were also noted within the yoga and naturopathic medicine groups across multiple variables.