Yoga best for backs

Back pain is no joke and it does not confine itself to any particular age group. It is estimated that around 80 per cent of the adult population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. When you do experience it is no joke and can do anything from make you utter undignified grunts when you get out of a chair to confining you to bed with a good book. Treatments for back pain range through rest, exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, and end in a worst case scenario with surgery. Now however, a new study suggests that yoga is the way back from back pain.

The new study conducted by the University of York focused on two groups of people who were receiving care from a GP for chronic and recurrent back pain. One group continued on with their conventional care while a second group undertook yoga classes for a period of twelve weeks.

The participants completed a questionnaire as to their back pain at three months, six months, and nine months from the beginning of the trial.

The yoga style used in the trial was Iyengar and the classes were designed for complete beginners at yoga. The emphasis in the classes was on back care and offered instruction in mental calming, mobilising, strengthening, stretching, relaxation, and positive mental focus.

After three months, those who had undertaken yoga were able to take part in 30 per cent more activities than those who had remained under conventional care. After nine months more than 50 per cent of those who has done yoga were still doing yoga at home at least twice a week.

Comparing the results of this study to other randomised controlled trials, it was found that was found that a twelve week yoga program improved back pain more than exercise and manipulation (by a chiropractor or osteopath), more than cognitive-behaviour treatment, and more than six sessions of one-to-one Alexander Technique (although not more than 24 sessions of Alexander Technique).

Since most back pain is recurring, it would appear that yoga is providing lifelong self-management skills that will be invaluable (both to the individual when you consider that the number of work days lost to back pain every year is counted in the millions).

So if that back is twinging there’s nothing for it but to get in the comfy clothes, get ready to breathe, and get on the mat.