The effect of 12 weeks of yoga rehabilitation on psychological variables and lumbar and hamstring flexibility in women with chronic low back pain: A quasi­experimental study

Low back pain is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal disorders, and it is the main cause of reduced performance and disability worldwide. The present study aimed to determine the effect of twelve weeks of yoga rehabilitation on selected subjective variables and the flexibility of the muscles in the lower back and hamstrings of women suffering from non-specific chronic back pain.

Twenty-eight women suffering from non-specific chronic back pain were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Pain intensity, disability, stress level, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured using the Quebec, Oswestry, 21-question scale, and SF-36, respectively. The flexibility of the back and hamstring muscles was assessed using the flexibility box in the pre- and post-tests. The covariance test was used to analyze the data.

There were significant decreases in pain (p=0.001), disability (p=0.004), stress, anxiety, and depression (p=0.002), and a significant increase in some scales of quality of life, including physical performance (p=0.025), general health (p=0.043), and health change (p=0.003). There was also a significant increase in the flexibility of the muscles in the lower back and hamstrings (p=0.001).

Performing yoga exercises has a positive effect on the physical and psychological factors of individuals with non-specific chronic back pain. It seems that coaches, specialists, physiotherapists, and even individuals can use the yoga exercise protocol as an effective intervention method to improve and treat non-specific chronic back pain during the rehabilitation phase.