RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT04270617

The Effect of Yoga Practice on Chronic Back Pain

A Prospective, Randomized-controlled Study to Evaluate the Effect of a Standardized Yoga Practice on Chronic Back Pain

Sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Enrollment

200 participants

Start Date

Dec 1, 2019

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Chronic Back Pain

Summary

Chronic low back pain is notoriously difficult to treat and is a primary contributor to lost work days and excessive health expenditures, and whose treatment has, in part, contributed to the opioid crisis. Surgery is only an option in a minority of these patients, usually confined to those with structural instability. Yoga is an ancient modality whose benefits are currently being studied.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria2

Willingness to and ability to participate in study procedures
Chronic back pain (pain above the gluteal cleft of at least 3 months duration)

Exclusion Criteria2

Indication for surgery (i.e., fracture, infection, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis)
Cardiac, pulmonary or other medical comorbidities that preclude participation in yoga practice

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALYoga program

The intervention will be a 6-week ashtanga yoga program designed by world-renowned yogi Eddie Stern. Eddie Stern is an internationally known Ashtanga yoga teacher, in independent practice not affiliated with NYULH, who has done significant work exploring the physiology and science of yoga. He is not currently engaged in his own research. The yoga protocol for chronic back pain was designed with poses specific to addressing core strength but are gentle enough for patients in pain. The protocol is designed to be directed by a teacher initially but can be done at home and is only 18 minutes in duration.