Evaluating Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain

This study has been completed.

First Received: March 7, 2003 Last Updated: August 17, 2006 History of Changes

Sponsor:	National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Information provided by:	National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00056212

Purpose

This study will compare the effectiveness of yoga classes, exercise classes, and a self-care book in the management of pain and function for people with low back pain.

Condition	Intervention
Low Back Pain	Behavioral: Yoga Behavioral: Exercise

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study
Official Title:	Evaluating Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Back Pain Exercise and Physical Fitness

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):

Estimated Enrollment:	100
Study Start Date:	July 2002
Estimated Study Completion Date:	October 2004

Detailed Description:

Back problems are among the most prevalent conditions affecting adults and are a leading reason for using complementary or alternative medical (CAM) therapies. Despite the common use of CAM therapies for back pain, little is known about how they compare with conventional treatments. This study will lay the groundwork for a full-scale trial that compares yoga with conventional exercise and usual care for chronic low back pain.

This study will randomize 30 people with chronic low back pain to each of the following groups: yoga, a conventional therapeutic exercise program, and usual care. There will be 12 weeks of weekly treatment and follow-up assessments via phone at 6, 12, and 26 weeks to measure each treatment's impact on symptoms, function, quality of life, and utilization and costs of back pain related care.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	20 Years to 64 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

Group Health Cooperative enrollee
Uncomplicated low back pain
At least moderate pain levels

Exclusion criteria:

Sciatica persisting 3 or more months after physician visit
History of cancer (other than nonmelanoma skin cancer)
Severe disk problems
Unstable medical conditions
Back surgery within past 3 years
Physically unable to do the yoga or exercise classes and homework
Unable to attend classes
Currently doing yoga
Taken exercise class for back pain within past year
Currently in litigation for back pain
Seeking other treatment for back pain

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00056212

Locations

United States, Washington
Group Health Cooperative
Seattle, Washington, United States

Sponsors and Collaborators

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Karen J. Sherman, Ph.D.

Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative

More Information

Publications:

Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Erro J, Miglioretti DL, Deyo RA. Comparing yoga, exercise, and a self-care book for chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Dec 20;143(12):849-56.

Study ID Numbers:	R21 AT001215-01
Study First Received:	March 7, 2003
Last Updated:	August 17, 2006
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00056212 History of Changes
Health Authority:	United States: Federal Government

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Signs and Symptoms
Nervous System Diseases
Neurologic Manifestations

Low Back Pain
Pain
Back Pain

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on November 27, 2009