Role of Yoga Therapy in Chronic Low Back Ache – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) as an add-on treatment for pain, tenderness, back disability, and spinal flexibility in patients undergoing conventional treatment for chronic low back ache. Design: 120 patients suffering from Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), aged 18–75 years (yoga group = 41.29±15.87, control group = 41.63±13.48) from Ebnezar orthopedic center, Bengaluru were randomly assigned into2 groups-a yoga group and a control group-to receive IAYT or therapeutic exercises after intermittent lumbar traction and ultrasound (20 minutes per day). Both groups practiced supervised interventions for three weeks at the center and later, for 12 weeks, at their residences after the completion of treatment. Outcome Measures: Both groups were assessed for pain, tenderness, back disability, and spinal flexibility on the 1st day in the pre-test and on the 21st day in the post-test. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA). Results: There were significant differences within (RMANOVA, p<0.001) and between the groups (RMANOVA, p<0.001) in pain, tenderness, back disability, and spinal flexibility with greater improvement in the yoga group than in the control group. Pain in the yoga (39.9%, 66%, 85%, 98.9 %) and control (25.5%, 45%, 63%, 74%), tenderness in the yoga (60%, 81%, 95%, 99 %) and control (37%, 51%, 60%, 80.7%), back disability in the yoga (55%, 81%, 96%, 99.7 %) and control (35%, 53%, 63.8%, 80.7%), movements- flexion in yoga (77%, 126%, 183%, 232%) and control (33%, 64%, 99%, 132%), extension in yoga (75%, 113%, 130%, 132%) and control (34%, 68%, 102%, 121%), right lateral flexion in yoga (78%, 113%, 126%, 129%) and control (32%, 66%, 99%, 117%), left lateral rotation in yoga (76%, 109%, 119%, 120%) and control (33%, 67%, 100%, 113%), right lateral rotation in yoga (70%, 107%, 136%, 143%) and control (29%, 58%, 89%, 114%), left lateral rotation in yoga (66%, 103%, 129%, 130%) and control (28%, 55%, 84%, 107%). All these improved in the yoga group better than the control group on the 21st day, the 3rd month, the 6th month, and at one year, respectively. Conclusion: IAYT an add-on to conventional physiotherapy provides significantly better improvement than therapeutic exercises alone in patients suffering from CLBP.