EFFECT OF YOGA THERAPY ON SPINAL FLEXIBILITY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK ACHE: AN RCT

Abstract

Th e objective of this st udy was to evaluate the role of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) a s an add - on on pain and spinal flexibility in patients undergoing conventional treatment for chronic low back ache . One hundred and twenty patients suffering from chronic low back ache (CLBA) aged between 18yrs to 75yrs Yoga( 41.29±15.87 ) and Control ( 41.63±13.48 ) from Ebnezar orthopedic center, Bengaluru were randomly assigned into two groups; yoga group (YG) and control group (CG) to receive IAYT or Therapeutic exercises after Intermittent l umbar traction and ultrasound (20 minutes per day). Both the groups practiced supervised interventions (40 minutes per day) for 3 weeks at the c enter and later for 12 weeks at their residences after the completion of treatment. 57 (yoga) and 55 (control) s ubjects were available for the final analysis. Both th e groups were assessed for pain and spinal flexibility on the 1 st day in the pretest and on the 21 st day in the post test. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA). Ther e were significant differences within (RMANOVA, P<0.001) and between the groups (RMANOVA, P <0.001) on pain and spinal flexibility with better improvements in the yoga group than the control group. Pain in the yoga (39.9%, 66%, 85%, and 98.9 %) and control (25.5%, 45%, 63% and 74%), movements - flexion in yoga (77%, 126%, 183%,232%) and control (33%, 64%, 99%, 132%), Extension in yoga (75%, 113%, 130%,132%) and control (34%,68%,102%,121%), right lateral flexion in yoga (78%,113%,126%,129%) and control (32%, 66%, 99%,117%), left lateral rotation in yoga (76%, 109%, 119%, 120%) and control (33% ,67%, 100%, 113%), right lateral rotation in yoga (70%, 107%, 136%, 143%) and control (29%, 58%, 89%, 114%), left lateral rotation in yoga (66%, 103%, 129%, 130%) and control (28%,55%, 84%, 107%). All these improved in the yoga group better than the control group on the 21st day, 3 rd month, 6th mont h and 1year respectively. Integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) as an add - on with the conventional physiotherapy provides significantly better improvement in reducing pain and improving spinal flexibility than the therapeutic exercises in patients suf fering from chronic low back ache.