Erik J. Groessl|Lin Liu|Douglas G. Chang|Julie Loebach Wetherell|Jill E. Bormann|J. H. Atkinson|Sunita Baxi|Laura Schmalzl
Yoga for Military Veterans with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of California, San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of California, San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of California, San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of California, San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|University of California, San Diego|University of California, San Diego|VA San Diego Healthcare System|Southern California University of Health Sciences|University of California, San Diego
chronic low back pain clbp prevalent especially among military veterans many clbp treatment options limited benefits accompanied side effects major efforts reduce opioid use embrace nonpharmacological pain treatments resulted research community clbp patients indicates yoga improve health outcomes side effects benefits yoga among military veterans examinedparticipants randomized either yoga delayed yoga treatment 20132015 outcomes assessed baseline 6 weeks 12 weeks 6 months intentiontotreat analyses occurred 2016one hundred fifty military veterans clbp recruited major veterans affairs medical center californiayoga classes home practice led certified instructor twice weekly 12 weeks consisted primarily physical postures movement breathing techniquesthe primary outcome rolandmorris disability questionnaire scores 12 weeks pain intensity identified important secondary outcomeparticipant characteristics mean age 53 years 26 female 35 unemployed disabled mean back pain duration 15 years improvements rolandmorris disability questionnaire scores differ two groups 12 weeks yoga participants greater reductions rolandmorris disability questionnaire scores delayed treatment participants 6 months 248 95 ci 408 087 yoga participants improved pain intensity 12 weeks 6 months opioid medication use declined among participants group differences foundyoga improved health outcomes among veterans despite evidence fewer resources worse health challenges attending yoga sessions community samples studied previously magnitude pain intensity decline small occurred context reduced opioid use findings support wider implementation yoga programs veteransthis study registered wwwclinicaltrialsgov nct02524158