In the scientific world, the word “heal” is almost never used when talking about any disease—because bodies differ, outcomes vary, and, well, researchers probably want to avoid lawsuits.
That said, I’ve read many times that yoga eases moderate to severe low back pain and improves function. And honestly, that’s what we’re aiming for!
Here are some studies for your reading pleasure:
- “There are now a number of studies, including ours, that show that yoga is effective for chronic low back pain (…)”
- “Yoga is a gentle practice that is ideal for maintaining back strength and flexibility. It’s also one of the more effective tools for helping reduce low back pain, the most common source of pain and disability among older adults.”
- “According to a study in the journal Spine (Sept. 1, 2009), yoga therapy can reduce pain and improve function in people with chronic low back pain.”
- Efficacy and Safety of Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain – Systematic Review
- Yoga as a Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain – A Systematic Review
- Effectiveness of Virtual Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain – JAMA
- “Online yoga classes relieved chronic low back pain and slashed the need for pain-relief medications, a new study shows.”
- “This systematic review found strong evidence for short-term effectiveness and moderate evidence for long-term effectiveness of yoga for chronic low back pain in the most important patient-centered outcomes. Yoga can be recommended as an additional therapy to chronic low back pain patients.”
So—keep practicing!
Om Shanti! Peace!
Anna
