Yoga Helps Heal Chronic Lower Back Pain, Study Shows

Creatas/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A new study finds that yoga can be beneficial in improving symptoms of chronic back pain patients.

Researchers split up 230 adults with chronic back pain into three groups: one group took 12 weekly yoga classes, another group took stretching exercise classes, and the last group was given a self-care book. After conducting telephone interviews, the researchers found that the yoga group reported better functional status than the self-care book group.

There was no difference in functional status between the yoga group and stretching exercise group.

The research backs what is already known – that physical activity and exercise is beneficial in chronic back pain patients.

The research was to be published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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