Yoga and stretching are both equally effective in easing chronic back pain, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle analyzed data from 228 adults who were assigned either to attend weekly yoga classes, stretching classes, or given a book on managing back pain. They found that those who went to yoga and stretching classes had fewer symptoms than those who were just given the book.
This finding indicates that the element of yoga that benefits those with back pain is likely the stretching, rather than its breathing or relaxation components.
Participants in the study were asked to fill out questionnaires about their pain levels on a scale of zero to 23, with 23 being the worst pain level. After 12 weeks of the study, those in the yoga and stretching groups reported pain levels from four to five, whole those in the book group reported an average of seven. These reports stayed the same after three months as well.
According to Karen Sherman, lead author of the study, the take-home message is that people with chronic pain should practice either yoga or stretching on a regular basis.
"There is absolutely no treatment that works for everybody,” Sherman said, as quoted by Reuters. “If they're willing to practice, they should go ahead and give it a try."
According to Dr. Timothy Carey from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, which exercise you choose depends on your personal preferences, and group exercise classes offer a great way to stay motivated. Even though the study didn’t involve people with severe back pain, Reuters quoted Carey as saying that "almost anyone with back pain can benefit from stretching exercises."
The research was reported in Archives of Internal Medicine.
