Effect of Yoga Vs. Stretching on Chronic Back Pain (YES)

Kaiser Permanente

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain

Treatments: Behavioral: Self-care book recommendations; Behavioral: Exercise; Behavioral: Yoga

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00447668

U01AT003208 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will compare the effectiveness of yoga classes, exercise classes, and a self-care book in the management of pain and function for people with low back pain.It will also for physical, psychological and physiological factors associated with improvement in back pain.

Enrollment: 210 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Group Health Cooperative enrollee
• Uncomplicated low back pain
• At least moderate pain levels

Exclusion criteria

• Sciatica persisting 3 or more months after physician visit
• History of cancer (other than nonmelanoma skin cancer)
• Severe disk problems
• Unstable medical conditions
• Back surgery within past 3 years
• Physically unable to do the yoga or exercise classes and homework
• Unable to attend classes
• Currently doing yoga
• Taken yoga or exercise class for back pain within past year
• Currently in litigation for back pain
• Seeking other treatment for back pain

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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210 participants in 3 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Yoga

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Exercise

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise

3

Active Comparator group

Description:

Self-care book recommendations

Treatment:

Behavioral: Self-care book recommendations