Yoga backed over conventional care for better relief of chronic back pain

Four in five people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives but few effective treatments exist.

A study, led by York University and funded by Arthritis Research UK, found people offered a specially-designed 12-week yoga programme experienced greater improvements in back function and more confidence in performing everyday tasks than those offered conventional GP care.

Although improvements were more pronounced at three months, researchers found there was still an improvement in people’s ability to perform tasks such as walking more quickly, getting dressed without help or standing up for longer periods of time even nine months after the yoga classes had finished.

Among those taking part was keen gardener Sue Faulkner, 68, of Bishopthorpe, York, whose back was so bad that walking any distance was painful and she needed to stop regularly to rest.

“I felt a definite benefit after the programme as it made me more flexible and we were taught positions to relieve certain types of back pain,” she said.

“I’ve continued going to yoga classes and still do the positions I was taught during the 12-week programme. Walking around is no longer a problem and I can do my gardening now so long as I pace myself. I’ve even taken on an allotment and no longer take painkillers.”

Chief investigator Prof David Torgerson, director of York trials unit, said: “Our results showed that yoga can provide both short and long-term benefits to those suffering from chronic or recurrent back pain, without any serious side-effects.”

Prof Alan Silman, medical director of the charity, said: “This extremely common condition cannot be managed with painkillers alone and there is an urgent need to have non-drug therapies that sufferers can utilise in their own home.”

For more information go to www.yogaforbacks.co.uk.

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