Lower back pain, also called low back pain or LBP, is a widespread pain condition. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), 31 million Americans suffer from LBP, and the Global Burden of Diseases 2010 listed it as the #1 cause of disability globally. Gayle T. Walter of Kaplan University notes that only 3 out of every 20 LBP cases can be connected to an identifiable root cause in the back. In other words, it’s not an easy problem to solve because you can’t simply “fix” a physical aberration to cure it.
The standard conventional medicine (or “Western medicine”) approach to LBP involves prescription medication and physical rehabilitation, with surgery as a last resort. However, sustained intake of pain pills can cause a variety of side effects, including addiction. Alternative or complementary therapies are now advised by most pain management practices to relieve back pain, with some services offered in-house. Examples include chiropractic adjustment, yoga, and massage therapy.
Yoga as a low back pain treatment: studies
For most patients with lower back pain, doctors recommend staying active so that your back does not tighten and atrophy. Yoga is a simple exercise and is relatively affordable because it is typically offered through group classes, usually ranging from “pay what you can” to $20. Granted, those who are new at yoga and already have a back condition should be aware of their body throughout and guard against overstretching.
Despite the need for precautions, the research on yoga is compelling. A study conducted at West Virginia University with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that lower back pain is mitigated for those who go to yoga classes. Yoga also lowers the depression rate and improves physical functionality in pain sufferers, according to the study, published in 2009 in the medical journal Spine.
A second study tested yoga as a low back pain treatment for patients of the Veterans Administration (VA). That study had participants fill out a questionnaire on pain, depression, and other factors, before and after a six-week yoga routine. After a month and a half of yoga, the study revealed that participants benefited from “sizable decreases” of pain and significant mood elevation.
Yoga and other therapies to relieve back pain
Yoga is not just helpful for pain but offers other health benefits as well. A variety of studies have shown that yoga can help to treat those with diabetes, cancer, mental disorders, and other conditions.
Yoga is just one strategy that can be used to alleviate pain, though. At Atlantic Medical Clinic, we use a full spectrum of strategies – customized for each individual patient – to ensure the speediest and most efficacious recovery.