EFFICACY OF YOGA THERAPY (IAYT) ON PAIN IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK ACHE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) as an add - on in patients undergoing conventional treatment for chronic low back ache . One hundred and twenty patients suffering from chronic low back ache (CLBA) aged between 18y ea rs to 75y ea rs Yoga( 41.29±15.87 ) and Control ( 41.63±13.48 ) from Ebnezar orthopedic center, Bengaluru were randomly assigned into two groups; yoga group (YG) and control group (CG) to receive IAYT or Therapeutic exercises after Intermittent lumbar traction and ultrasound (20 minutes per day). Both the groups practiced supervised interven tions (40 minutes per day) for 3 weeks at the center and later for 12 weeks at their residences after the completion of treatment. 57 (yoga) and 55 (control) subjects were available for the final analysis. Both the groups were assessed for pain on the 1 st day in the pretest and on the 21 st day in the post test. Data was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA). There was significant difference within (RMANOVA, P<0.001) and between the groups (RMANOVA, P< 0.001) on pain with better improvements in the yoga group than the control group. Pain in the yoga (39.9%, 66%, 85%, and 98.9 %) and con trol (25.5%, 45%, 63% and 74%) improved in the yoga group better than the control group on the 21 st day, 3 rd month, 6 th month and 1y ea r respectivel y. Integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) as an add - on with the conv entional physiotherapy significantly reduces the pain in pati ents suffering from chronic low back ache.