EFFICACY OF STRUCTURED THERAPEUTIC AND RESTORATIVE YOGA PROTOCOL IN REDUCING PAIN AND IMPROVING LUMBAR FUNCTION IN CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN PATIENTS

Background: Chronic low back pain is a common & disabling musculoskeletal disorder affecting a significant number of people worldwide, inflicting a serious disability, poor quality of life, and healthcare burden. Traditional pharmacological and physical therapy methods tend to give only short-term relief, and the development of integrative and non-pharmacological interventions is necessary. Therapeutic and Restorative yoga has become an emerging complementary modality in CLBP care, but there is still very little evidence and research about conditions and other studies on short-term, structured therapeutic restorative yoga programs. Objective: The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effectiveness of a gradual one-month Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga Protocol in relieving the intensity of pain and lumbar functional outcomes in patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: The study design used was a pre-post interventional design. The patients with CLBP belonged to the group (duration of pain 3 months and more): those were enrolled and put under Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga Protocol, which included guided restorative asana and relaxation practices. The degree of pain was measured according to the NPRS, and the lumbar roll found in the ODI and SLR Test, which measures lumbar flexion range of motion. Both before and after the intervention, measurements were taken. Results: According to the NPRS ratings (p < 0.001), there were statistically significant reductions in pain intensity after one month of following the Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga Protocol. There was also significant improvement in lumbar functional capacity as indicated by significant changes in the ODI scores and the lumbar flexion range of motion at SLR (Straight Leg Raising) Test (p < 0.001). No reported undesirable incidents during the time of intervention. Conclusion: The Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga Protocol is an effective, safe, and clinically meaningful short-term (less than six weeks) intervention to reduce pain & enhance lumbar function in patients with CLBP. Such results justify the use of structured therapeutic yoga programs as a part of multidisciplinary rehabilitation of CLBP. A larger sample of randomized controlled trials and follow-ups would help to validate these results.