Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Mechanism of Action (YoMA)

Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Mechanism of Action (YoMA)

This is a study to better understand how a yoga intervention helps improve symptoms in people with chronic low back pain. This study will be a 12-week intervention of about 24 participants with chronic low back pain where all individuals will receive weekly yoga classes and instructions for home practice. The purpose of this study is to collect feasibility data and to conduct preliminary analyses in preparation for a larger planned NIH study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic low back pain lasting > 3 months
• Back pain that is rated at least 3 on a numeric pain rating scale that ranges from 0 to 10 (0-no pain, 10 worst pain imaginable).
• English language fluency

Exclusion Criteria:

• BMI > 40
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Recent diagnosis of abdominal aneurism
• Recent diagnosis of metastatic cancer
• Recent diagnosis of discitis
• Recent diagnosis of disk disease
• Recent diagnosis of spinal stenosis
• Recent diagnosis of spondylolisthesis
• Recent diagnosis of infectious cause of back pain
• Recent diagnosis of fracture of vertebra
• Recent diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
• Recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
• Recent diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
• Recent diagnosis of paralysis
• Pregnancy
• Prior or planned back surgery
• Blindness or severe vision problems
• Deafness or severe hearing problems
• Bipolar or manic depression and not taking medication
• Major depression
• Psychoses (major)
• a substance abuse condition
• Dementia
• Unable to get up and down from the floor
• Involvement in a lawsuit related to back pain
• Lack of transportation
• Other disabling chronic conditions (e.g., disabling heart or lung disease, diabetic neuropathy, receiving treatment for hepatitis)
• Currently (within the past 3 months) using yoga classes for more than 15 minutes per week
• Inability to be contacted by phone or email
• no computer access
• schedule does not allow for participation in classes/home practice
• planning to move out of town or take a long vacation during the period of the study