Yoga for Veterans With CLBP

Yoga Therapy to Improve Function Among Veterans With Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent condition among VA patients, but many current treatment options have limited effectiveness. In addition to chronic pain, people with chronic low back pain experience increased disability, psychological symptoms such as depression, and reduced health-related quality of life. This randomized controlled study will examine the impact of yoga therapy for improving function and decreasing pain in VA patients with chronic low back pain. Although not every VA patient with chronic low back pain will choose to do yoga, it is an inexpensive treatment modality that is increasingly appealing to many VA patients. If yoga is effective, it could become an additional low-cost option that the VA can offer to better serve Veterans with chronic low back pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Has a VA primary care provider
• Diagnosis of chronic low back pain > 6 months
• Willing to attend a yoga program or be assigned to delayed treatment with yoga
• Willing to complete 4 assessments
• English Literacy
• Has not begun new pain treatments or medications in the past month
• Willing to not change pain treatments (e.g., discontinue a treatment; increase medication dose) during the 12-week intervention period unless medically necessary

Exclusion Criteria:

• back surgery within the last 12 months
• back pain due to specific systemic problem (eg, lupus, scleroderma, fibromyalgia)
• morbid obesity (BMI > 40)
• Significant sciatica or nerve compression < 3 months or chronic lumbar radicular pain > 3 months
• Unstable, serious coexisting medical illness (eg, CHF, cancer, COPD, morbid obesity; dementia)
• Unstable, serious psychiatric illness (e.g., unmanaged psychosis, active substance dependence)
• Insufficient data to rule out acute, metastatic disease, (unless primary care physician approves)
• Attended or practiced yoga > 1x in the last 12 months
• Positive Romberg test (with or without sensory neuropathy)