This is a question lots of patients ask me. A number of my chiropractic patients regularly practice yoga and although I have never formerly studied its effect, anecdotally at least it does seem to help with flexibility. Patients tell me that alongside regular chiropractic treatment, it helps them manage their back pain.
What is Yoga?
Of course there are many different types of yoga based upon a range of techniques and principles. Yoga has been around for hundreds of years and in essence it is a physical, mental and spiritual practice having originated in ancient India. A number of the focus points of yoga include strength, flexibility, breathing and posture and all of these areas have the potential to benefit musculoskeletal care.
With this in mind, a couple of contrasting articles in the press looking at the safety and efficacy of yoga caught my eye. A book published by New York Times science writer William J Broad warned of the dangers of some yoga positions that in some cases have the potential to lead to strokes. British Wheel of Yoga Chief Executive Pierre Bibby, responded by putting this down to “bad teaching and bad practice.
In contrast to these reports, two recent research studies into the benefits of yoga showed promising results. The first study appeared to show that yoga instructors had a lesser degree of degenerative disc changes than those who did not practice yoga (no patients in the study had any back or neck pain symptoms). A second study loked at if yoga was effective as a treatment for low back pain and concluded that it was likely that yoga appeared a safe and effective treatment for chronic (over 6 months) or recurrent low back pain. (There were weakness in both of these studies but this is beyond the scope of this article).
What I think is great about the latter two studies is that it shows research is being undertaken. Any treatment, whether it be chiropractic, yoga or conventional medicine must actively develop its research base and prove its validity.
If you are thinking of taking up yoga be sure to find an experienced teacher with small class sizes. I have excellent links with local yoga and pilates teachers (more on pilates coming soon) and can refer you to a suitable practitioner.
Studies discussed.
1. Jeng C et al. Yoga and disc degenerative disease in cervical and lumbar spine: An MR imaging-based case control study. European Spine Journal 2011; 20: 408.413.
2. Tilbrook HE et al. Yoga for chronic low back pain : A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine 2011; 155: 569.578.
