Worksite Yoga Program For Non-specific Chronic Low-back Pain And Related Symptoms

Abstract

The numerous contributing mental and physical factors causing the Non-Specific Low- Back Pain (NSLBP) make it difficult to diagnosis or properly select a form of treatment. Yoga as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approach may help to reduce stress, increase physical activity, and decrease disability as it relates to NSLBP. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a 10-week yoga intervention combining breathing, stretching, strengthening and mindfulness exercises, to increase quality of life, decrease fear-avoidance beliefs and decrease pain disability. METHODS: Thirty-four participants completed the 10-week study and were randomized to either the 30-minute twice a week worksite yoga intervention (n = 20) or the non-intervention control (n = 14). Pre- and post-intervention outcome scores were statistically compared using paired sample t test and chi-square analysis. A sample t-test was used to compare continuous variables related to quality of life (SF-12), fear-avoidance behavior (FABQ) and disability from back pain (RM-18). Between-groups chi-squared analysis was used for score improvement or maintenance of responses from specific questions as it related to yoga. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the experimental group's sense of feeling peaceful and calm ((9.917, p > .001) and ability to climb stairs (7.219, p > .012). Fear avoidance beliefs, such as physical activity makes pain worse, were significantly altered when self-reported body weight was improved during this study (9.154, p > .002). The experimental group improved or maintained scores in all selected questions in comparison to the control but were not all statistically significant nor were the total questionnaire scores. CONCLUSION: NSLBP is a major musculoskeletal complaint contributing to sedentary lifestyle and obesity. CAM approaches such as Yoga may be an effective intervention to reduce the prevalence of NSLBP by increasing mind body awareness and reducing the fear of physical activity in this population.