FROM YOGA TO RESISTANCE TRAINING: EVALUATING EXERCISE PROGRAMS FOR NURSE LOW BACK PAIN

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent occupational hazard among nurses, negatively affecting their physical well-being, work performance, and quality of life. Exercise interventions—spanning aerobic, strengthening, stretching, spinal stabilization, and mind–body modalities—offer promising non-pharmacological strategies to prevent and manage LBP. This review evaluates research published between 2010 and 2023 from Cochrane, PubMed, and CINAHL, focusing on exercise-based treatments for LBP in nursing personnel. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing varied exercise interventions such as stabilization, muscular strengthening, aerobic conditioning, and complementary mind–body practices (yoga, tai chi, qigong). Findings consistently indicate that these interventions can reduce the incidence and severity of acute and chronic LBP, enhance functional mobility, and improve overall quality of life among nurses. Cognitive–physical protocols like yoga and qigong also addressed psychological dimensions of chronic pain, offering added benefits over unimodal programs. However, heterogeneity in exercise design, duration, and outcome assessments across studies limits definitive recommendations. The review highlights a need for standardized protocols, longitudinal follow-up, and comparative studies to identify optimal exercise formats tailored to nursing occupational demands. Integrating these findings into workplace wellness and occupational health policies could meaningfully reduce the prevalence and burden of LBP in this essential workforce.