Yoga for Chronic Back Pain

Yoga Helps Chronic Back Pain By Mattee Barkdoll, MA, MSW, RYT Athens Regional Medical Center Mind Body Institute The Mind Body Institute (MBI) at Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia is proud to announce that our Back Care Yoga class is the subject of a nursing doctoral dissertation. Dian Dowling Evans, PhD, FNP-BC completed her dissertation in 2009, entitled Characteristics and Outcomes of Individuals Self-Selecting Yoga or Physical Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain. The research compared MBI Back Care Yoga and physical therapy. And you guessed it, Back Care Yoga works! People get better. Back Care Yoga participants have less pain, less disability, less fear of movement, and improve physical functioning and general health. Dr. Evans’ study compared twenty-seven participants in the six week Back Care Yoga with twenty-six participants in a six week individualized physical therapy program. After six weeks of treatment, both groups had significant improvement in disability and in health status, and reported fewer days of pain. Persistent treatment benefits were found at twelve weeks after treatment. Want to learn more about this six week yoga course? Read the following interview with the instructor, Christina Clifton, RYT. MBI asks: Please tell us what students do in the Back Care Yoga class. Christina: Most importantly, we safely move the spine. Many folks with back pain are reluctant to move much, and this class reintroduces movement of the spine, in all directions, in a safe way. We strengthen and lengthen core muscles in the back that support the spine. We also develop mindfulness, which is very important to help people restructure the way they view their pain. The class always includes relaxation, which is very important for folks living with pain. Relaxation reduces stress and speeds healing. MBI asks: What is the most important benefit of this class? Christina: I think the biggest benefit is that students address their fear of movement. In the class, students learn to use the spine mindfully, to gain strength without damage. MBI asks: What makes this yoga class different than an exercise class? Christina: The mindfulness in yoga and relaxation reduces the effect of stress and restructures the student’s relationship with pain. MBI asks: Tell us about safety for students of Back Care Yoga. Christina: This class was developed by the MBI Medical Director Rich Panico, MD in conjunction with the physical therapists at Athens Regional Medical Center and our yoga teachers. All of our movements are gentle and safe for people who have limited range of motion, and live with constant or intermittent pain. The class was originally designed for folks coming out of physical therapy, but it can be modified to address the needs of those whose backs have become healthier. MBI asks: What have you heard back from your students? Christina: The folks who stick with it for the duration of the six week course find it very beneficial, and feel better. Most say they are able to relax better, have improved sleep, and can manage pain more efficiently. Also, some folks have decreased their pain medication (under supervision from their doctor, of course). MBI asks: What makes teaching this class special for you? Christina: It is very rewarding to facilitate a class in which I see such positive results for people who have a lot of pain. I love seeing people get stronger, more flexible, and more relaxed. The best part is the improvement in overall quality of life. What Do MBI Back Care Yoga Students Say? We give class evaluations at the end of each course. Here are a few of the comments. R. J. had this to say about Back Care Yoga: "Excellent class. I looked forward to each week. The class helped me to manage and care for my back problems." Another student, G. H. was very happy with her overall results. She explains: "I have severe back problems. After 2 series of classes my energy had returned and I actually woke up recently and wanted to work -- I deep cleaned my refrigerator for the first time in months." About what she liked most about the class, D. W. said "Opportunity to increase core strength and learn poses to alleviate back pain." B. L. listed several things that she liked most. "Results. Back has been much better. More flexible. Less pain. Can repeat postures at home because of excellent instructions and demonstrations." K. B., a recent student of Back Care Yoga, said: “I have had back trouble, which is an issue for me as a firefighter because I need to do heavy lifting. Since taking Back Care Yoga, I no longer have to be concerned about throwing my back out. I’ve learned simple techniques to do at home to strengthen my back. This peace of mind is beyond price.” For more information about the Mind Body Institute, view our website, e mail us at mbiprograms@armc.org, or call 706 475 7329.


Mattee Barkdoll, MSW, RYT
Yoga and Mindfulness at the Mind Body Institute of Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia

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