Chronic low back pain can be a debilitating condition and has the potential to affect anyone. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, Yoga can be a cost-effective way to help reduce low back pain. This is not just something that makes intuitive sense but has been demonstrated in rigorous scientific studies that provide hard numbers on benefits per dollars spent with large groups of participants. Yoga typically focuses on learning how to breathe correctly and combining one’s breath with movement. Most people tend to move in the same pattern day after day, which can be very repetitive. Yoga classes typically vary movement patterns, which can help strengthen different muscles and improve range of motion. Furthermore, chronic inflammation can contribute to low back pain, and it is thought that yoga may be able to lessen stress and reduce inflammation.
That being said, causes of low back pain differ widely among individuals, and each person may need a slightly different approach. That’s where physical therapy can help to correctly identify and treat the cause of your pain.
Interested in yoga or managing your low back pain? Our Boulder Physical Therapist, Robert Adams, has been teaching yoga since 2013 and loves to incorporate components from yoga into his PT treatment as well as use his PT background to help inform your yoga practice. He also customizes his treatment plan to different individual levels of experience. He works with beginners and experienced yogis to help them return to their practice without limitations.
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References
Groessl E.J., Richard E.L., Tally S.R. Cost-effectiveness of yoga for chronic low back pain in veterans. Med Care. 2020;58(9): S142-S148
Kim S.-D. Twelve Weeks of Yoga for Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis. Pain Manag Nurs. 2020: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2020.07.002
Slavich G.M. Understanding inflammation, its regulation, and relevance for health: A top scientific and public priority. Brain Behav. Immun. 2015;45: 13–14.