‘Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs’

Specialist yoga programme used in RCT research

Alison Trewhela & Anna Semlyen

Back Pain• 80% of UK adults experience low back

pain in their life• 30% will have back pain this month –

Will you?• Are you restricted in your daily life,

either physically or mentally, because of your back?

• Are you at risk of back pain in your work or because of your hobbies?

Back Pain Advice• The best way to beat back pain is to

“get back active”• Our ‘Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs’

programme can teach people to return to normal function

• It motivates to self-manage health in this recurring/episodic condition

Evidence-Based Yoga Research

• University of York Trial 2007-2011 (Results accepted for publication in top international, peer-reviewed journal)

• Funded by Arthritis Research UK• 313 volunteers, 20 teachers• Largest yoga study to date• Randomised Controlled Trial of Yoga for

Chronic Low Back Pain

‘Yoga For Healthy Lower Backs’ Is Safe and Easy

• Poses are foundational and manageable

• Addresses education, posture, comfort, strength and flexibility

• Often floor-based for alignment• Pain relief is taught first• People continued yoga

Specialist Yoga Works• Yoga group participants functioned

30% better than ‘usual GP care’ only group after 3 months of yoga classes (12 x 75 mins plus use of relaxation CD book). With long-term benefits.

• 9 fewer sick days per year with yoga

Yoga’s Benefits Last• The average yoga participant was

practising twice a week 9 months after classes finished

• Yoga group were still functioning better than the control group a year later

Comparison with other Treatments

• Specialist yoga lessons have better outcomes at lower cost than chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy & 6 Alexander technique lessons

Yoga is Cost-Effective

• 12 weeks of specialist group yoga saves 9 days off work per year (possibly forever).

• Published Cost-effectiveness paper showed this yoga to be good value for UK NHS and society/economy.

Testimonials“I keep thinking about how I am sitting and standing and this seems to be lessening my back pain considerably.”“At last I feel able to return to work, as I do not feel dragged down by my back pain”“My back is free from pain again, thanks to your training on how to ease the pain and remain healthy”“Thank you so much. Certainly an extremely beneficial, effective course”

Yoga Resources

• Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs Book with Practice Sheets

• Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs Relaxations CD

(4 x 15 min tracks)

See a 4 min video at www.yogaforbacks.co.uk

• Qualified teachers are available• This specialist yoga is an evidence-

based approach. It works, both short- and long-term. It’s affordable. It cuts sick leave

• Plus, it’s enjoyable!

Questions?

Thank You

Alison Trewhela& Anna Semlyen www.yogaforbacks.co.uk= a social enterprise educating on back care yoga used in research