Research shows yoga improves lower back pain
An article in today’s Guardian reports the conclusions of recent research showing that patients with lower back pain who had a 12 week course of yoga experienced greater mobility and pain relief than patients on current standard care. Benefits were also maintained even 9 months after the yoga was stopped, which could see yoga being recommended for patients with lower back pain and integrated into conventional care.
In the study, a group of 156 patients with chronic lower back pain were assigned to have the 75-minute yoga classes over 12 weeks, while a control group of 157 just saw their GPs. Participants filled in a 24-point questionnaire on whether their condition prevented them from doing everyday tasks. Those who did the yoga scored on average 2.17 points lower than those who did not. Three and nine months later, their scores were still 1.48 and 1.57 points lower respectively.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the body in the UK which sets the guidelines on the recommendations for best treatment. Acupuncture for lower back pain is already recommended by NICE, and as a result I’m one of the acupuncturists working in conjunction with the NHS to deliver acupuncture in milton keynes to patients with chronic lower back pain through the Milton Keynes primary care trust pain clinic. I have helped many patients with acupuncture for back pain, if this is something you or somebody you know suffers from, I’m available in milton keynes at the ISIS Chiropractic Clinic on 01908 307 075. If you are suffering from lower back pain and are closer to my Berkhamsted acupuncture clinic, appointments can be booked there on 07717 515 013.
Yoga is something I frequently recommend to patients as an excellent practice for health, mental and physical well being, and physical flexibility, so it’s a great thing to see its benefits being more readily recognised through research.
The full story in The Guardian is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/oct/31/yoga-lower-back-pain-treatments?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038