The Effect of Yoga Practice on Chronic Back Pain

A Prospective, Randomized-controlled Study to Evaluate the Effect of a Standardized Yoga Practice on Chronic Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is notoriously difficult to treat and is a primary contributor to lost work days and excessive health expenditures, and whose treatment has, in part, contributed to the opioid crisis. Surgery is only an option in a minority of these patients, usually confined to those with structural instability. Yoga is an ancient modality whose benefits are currently being studied.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether a 6 week standardized yoga practice is superior to usual conservative therapies in the treatment of chronic back pain at 6 months. There is enough data that the most recent ACP guidelines have included yoga as a treatment for chronic back pain, but more data needs to be generated regarding the efficacy of this modality in treating the chronic back pain population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willingness to and ability to participate in study procedures
• Chronic back pain (pain above the gluteal cleft of at least 3 months duration)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Indication for surgery (i.e., fracture, infection, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis)
• Cardiac, pulmonary or other medical comorbidities that preclude participation in yoga practice