Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Mechanism of Action: Impact of Strength and Stretch (YoMA II)

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Chronic Low Back Pain

Treatments

Behavioral: Self-Directed Mind-Body Program

Behavioral: Yoga

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02552992

UCSFCHR14-14148

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a pilot, randomized controlled trial to provide feasibility and conduct preliminary analyses on physical (strength and stretch) mechanisms associated with a yoga intervention for non-specific chronic low back pain (cLBP). Recent large-scale trials have demonstrated the efficacy of a yoga intervention for cLBP however, many types of yoga classes are available to the public and a specialized yoga protocol for individuals with cLBP is needed. This study's goal is to quantify trunk strength and flexibility to better understand how these potential physical mechanisms specifically lead to improvement in pain-related outcomes including pain and disability. This knowledge will be used to design a large scale trial of mechanisms of yoga for cLBP. For this pilot study, 40 participants will be randomized to either a yoga intervention (N=20) or to a usual care group (N=20) that will receive The Back Pain Helpbook, a mind-body self-care program for better living. The yoga intervention will be offered weekly yoga classes and instructional materials will be provided for home practice.

Enrollment

22 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Chronic low back pain lasting > 6 months
Back pain that is rated at least 3 on a numeric pain rating scale that ranges from 0 to 10 (0-no pain, 10 worst pain imaginable).
English language fluency

Exclusion criteria

BMI > 40
Inability to provide informed consent
Recent diagnosis of abdominal aneurism
Recent diagnosis of metastatic cancer
Recent diagnosis of discitis
Recent diagnosis of disk disease
Recent diagnosis of spinal stenosis
Recent diagnosis of spondylolisthesis
Recent diagnosis of infectious cause of back pain
Recent diagnosis of fracture of vertebra
Recent diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
Recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
Recent diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis
Recent diagnosis of paralysis
Pregnancy
Prior or planned back surgery
Blindness or severe vision problems
Deafness or severe hearing problems
Bipolar or manic depression and not taking medication
Major depression
Psychoses (major)
a substance abuse condition
Dementia
Unable to get up and down from the floor
Involvement in a lawsuit related to back pain
Lack of transportation
Other disabling chronic conditions (e.g., disabling heart or lung disease, diabetic neuropathy, receiving treatment for hepatitis)
Currently (within the past 3 months) using yoga classes for more than 15 minutes per week
Inability to be contacted by phone or email
no computer access
schedule does not allow for participation in classes/home practice
planning to move out of town or take a long vacation during the period of the study