Yoga more effective than walking for short term relief of chronic lower back pain: Study

Walking and mind-body therapies (MBTs) are commonly recommended to relieve pain and improve function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The purpose of this current study was to compare the effectiveness of walking and MBTs in CLBP.

For the study design, researchers included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing walking or MBTs to any other intervention or control in adults with CLBP. Studies were identified through PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The research was limited to studies published in English and French between January 2008 and December 2018. The team analyzed pain and activity limitation, with the calculation of standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for the different treatment effects.

Results put forth some key facts.

• Thirty one randomized controlled trials involving 3193 participants were analyzed.
• Walking was as effective as control interventions in the short-term and slightly superior in the intermediate term with respect to pain (Standardized mean differences (SMD) = -0.34; 95% CI, -0.65 to -0.03; P = .03) and activity limitation (SMD = -0.30; 95% CI, -0.50 to -0.10; P = .003).
• In contrast, yoga was more effective than control interventions in the short term in terms of pain (SMD = -1.47; 95% CI, -2.26 to -0.68; P = .0003) and activity limitation (SMD = -1.17; 95% CI, -1.80 to -0.55; P = .0002).
• Yoga was no longer superior to the control interventions for pain at the 6-month follow-up.

"This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of walking and MBTs in CLBP management. Nevertheless, we suggest that further studies examine this combination and involve additional comparison of these interventions for the management of CLBP."the research team concluded.

For full article follow the link: 10.1097/MD.0000000000021969

Source: Medicine