The effect of 8 weeks of yoga selected exercises on pain and functional disability in Women with non-specific chronic low back pain

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a growing problem in many communities, but there is no consensus regarding the most appropriate therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of yoga exercises on intensity of pain and functional disability in female subjects with non-specific chronic LBP.
Thirty female with nonspecific chronic LBP (mean age ± SD; 36.6±4.7 years old) were chosen voluntarily and purposefully randomly and divided into two groups, the experimental (EXP=14) and controls (CON=16) groups. Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for the assessment of pain intensity and Oswestry disability index questionnaire, abdominal and back muscle endurance, Back Performance Scale of functional disability were used for assessment of function. The EXP group performed yoga exercises for 8 weeks, three sessions per week. The control group remained sedentary. Data were determined with analysis of covariance, independent t test and paired t-tests at a significance level of α≥0.05.
Results of study showed that a period of 8-weeks yoga exercises caused a significantly decreased in pain, functional disability, Back Performance Scale and significant increase in abdominal muscle endurance, back muscles endurance in EXP group (P≤0.05). Also, there were significant differences between groups (P≤0.05).
Yoga exercises have significant effects in decreasing the pain and increasing function in women with non-specific chronic LBP.