Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized TrialFREE
Publication: Annals of Internal Medicine
Volume 155, Number 9
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Abstract
Background:
Previous studies indicate that yoga may be an effective treatment for chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of yoga and usual care for chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Design:
Parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial using computer-generated randomization conducted from April 2007 to March 2010. Outcomes were assessed by postal questionnaire. (International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register: ISRCTN 81079604)
Setting:
13 non–National Health Service premises in the United Kingdom.
Patients:
313 adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Intervention:
Yoga (n = 156) or usual care (n = 157). All participants received a back pain education booklet. The intervention group was offered a 12-class, gradually progressing yoga program delivered by 12 teachers over 3 months.
Measurements:
Scores on the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) at 3 (primary outcome), 6, and 12 (secondary outcomes) months; pain, pain self-efficacy, and general health measures at 3, 6, and 12 months (secondary outcomes).
Results:
93 (60%) patients offered yoga attended at least 3 of the first 6 sessions and at least 3 other sessions. The yoga group had better back function at 3, 6, and 12 months than the usual care group. The adjusted mean RMDQ score was 2.17 points (95% CI, 1.03 to 3.31 points) lower in the yoga group at 3 months, 1.48 points (CI, 0.33 to 2.62 points) lower at 6 months, and 1.57 points (CI, 0.42 to 2.71 points) lower at 12 months. The yoga and usual care groups had similar back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months, and the yoga group had higher pain self-efficacy scores at 3 and 6 months but not at 12 months. Two of the 157 usual care participants and 12 of the 156 yoga participants reported adverse events, mostly increased pain.
Limitation:
There were missing data for the primary outcome (yoga group, n = 21; usual care group, n = 18) and differential missing data (more in the yoga group) for secondary outcomes.
Conclusion:
Offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than did usual care.
Primary Funding Source:
Arthritis Research UK.
Context
•
Is yoga an effective therapy for low back pain?
Contribution
•
In this trial, adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain were randomly assigned to a 12-session, 3-month yoga program (n = 156) or usual care (n = 157). The yoga group had better back function but similar back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months compared with the usual care group. Eight participants reported adverse events, such as increased pain, that were perhaps related to yoga.
Caution
•
Compliance with yoga was incomplete, and some outcome data were missing.
Implication
•
Yoga can improve some outcomes in adults with chronic low back pain.
—The Editors
Back pain is a common and costly condition (1, 2). Exercise treatment, although widely used and recommended, has only a small effect on back pain (3–5). Yoga may offer an alternative approach to the treatment of low back pain. The benefits of yoga may be greater than those of exercise alone because yoga offers a combination of physical exercise with mental focus, and patients are taught good posture, self-awareness, and self-care along with relaxation. We recently conducted a literature review and found evidence that yoga may be an effective treatment of chronic low back pain (6–12). However, the previous studies had limitations, including small sample sizes, a single yoga teacher delivering the program, and short-term follow-up. We therefore conducted a trial to determine whether offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than usual care (13) (https://hscisrv07.york.ac.uk/yoga/html/index.html).
Methods
Design Overview
In this parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial, participants were allocated in an overall ratio of 1:1 to usual care or yoga. Participants were recruited between July 2007 and July 2008, with final follow-up in November 2009. The Leeds (East) Research Ethics Committee approved the study (reference 07/Q1206/35).
Setting and Participants
Thirty-nine general practices were recruited to the study. Participating general medical practices searched patient databases and mailed out an invitation packet to all individuals aged 18 to 65 years who had a visit for low back pain in the past 18 months; database searches were undertaken in 2 waves. In addition, during the second wave of recruitment, advertisements were also placed in local media. Individuals who were interested in participating were asked to return a consent form and an eligibility questionnaire containing the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) (14)—a 24-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 (best) to 24 (worst)—to the York Trials Unit.
Trial coordinators determined eligibility; criteria were as follows: a score of 4 or more on the RMDQ, musculoskeletal pain bounded by the lowest ribs and gluteal folds, and ability to attend 1 of the yoga venues. Patients were excluded if they 1) did not return a baseline questionnaire (second recruitment wave only), 2) had performed yoga in the previous 6 months, 3) could not get off the floor unaided, 4) could not use stairs, 5) were pregnant, 6) had life-threatening comorbid conditions, 7) had previously undergone spinal surgery, 8) had severe documented psychiatric problems or alcohol dependency, and 9) had indications of serious spinal neurologic abnormality (1 or more of the following: difficulty passing urine; numbness around their back passage, genitals, or inner thighs; numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in both legs; or unsteadiness on feet). Eligibility was confirmed through the participant's general practitioner.
Randomization and Interventions
The randomization sequence was computer generated by an independent data manager and was stratified by participants' prespecified availability to attend yoga classes from a list of classes available, with 1 block per class. Eligible participants' details were entered into a randomization database by the trial coordinators and secretary, who were blinded to the allocation sequence. A variable allocation ratio was used for each class to ensure that no more than 15 participants were allocated to any 1 class. Classes for which fewer than 15 participants expressed availability had an allocation ratio favoring the intervention group to ensure that there were equal numbers of participants in each group. Seven participants were added later and were randomly assigned individually in a 1:1 ratio.
All participants received a back pain education booklet (The Back Book [15]) and usual care. The intervention group was also offered a yoga program. The usual care group was offered a 1-time session of yoga after final follow-up.
Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs
Twenty experienced yoga teachers from 2 yoga associations—the British Wheel of Yoga and Iyengar Yoga (10 from each)—were recruited for the study. Teachers attended program training sessions over 2 weekends. All teachers taught the same form of yoga according to the teachers' manual class plans and the pose descriptions and sequences contained in the students' manual. For each course, 2 teachers were selected: 1 to teach and 1 to serve as back-up. Treatment fidelity was assessed on 2 separate occasions by the back-up yoga teachers. At each assessment, a report was completed and sent to the trial coordinators for review. The fidelity of content was verified by this process, and no changes resulted from the monitoring sessions.
Yoga was delivered in nonmedical centers in England (Cornwall, North and West London, Manchester, and York) and was delivered in twelve 75-minute classes (1 class per week). The classes ran from November 2007 to February 2008 and from September 2008 to December 2008. At the first class, participants were given the student manual, a mat, and a relaxation compact disc (which featured 4 narrated guided relaxations focusing on body parts, color meditation, breath awareness, and mental positivity). Home practice sheets were distributed in the class at 4 intervals over the 12 weeks.
The yoga program introduced participants to the foundational elements of yoga adapted appropriately for low back pain, including asana, pranayama, relaxation techniques, mental focus, and philosophy. Classes consisted of an introduction to the weekly theme; pain-relieving or settling-in relaxing poses; a program of seated, standing, prone, and supine poses; educative postural advice; and 5 to 15 minutes of relaxation. Poses targeted stiff, weak, and uneducated areas of the whole body, with the intention of improving mobility, strength, and posture and reducing pain. Later classes featured postures that built on previous weeks, with the aim of increasing confidence in performing more daily activities. Classes sought to train participants in using yoga in everyday life and at home. Participants were encouraged to undertake yoga for 30 minutes daily or to practice at least 2 times per week, and to use the compact disc.
See the Video Supplement for further information.
Outcomes and Follow-up
Questionnaires were posted with a prepaid envelope. Nonresponders were initially followed up with postal reminders and then with a telephone call by the trial coordinators or secretary to collect the primary outcome measure. A subset of participants was randomly assigned to receive an electronic reminder on the day they were due to receive the 6-month questionnaire (16). First-wave participants received £5 with the 12-month questionnaire, and second-wave participants received £5 with the 3-, 6-, and 12-month questionnaires.
Outcomes were measured before randomization; at baseline; and at 3, 6, and 12 months. The prespecified primary outcome was back function at 3 months, immediately after the yoga intervention. Back function was measured by using the RMDQ (14).
Secondary outcomes were 1) 6- and 12-month measures of the primary outcome; 2) physical and mental health Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey component summary scores (17, 18); 3) back pain scores on the Aberdeen Back Pain Scale (ABPS) (19); 4) self-efficacy scores on the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) (20); 5) EuroQol-5D health index (21) (results reported separately); 6) number of days spent in bed and number of days with restricted activity (follow-up data reported separately); 7) economic data, including medication use over the previous 4 weeks and other health care use (reported separately); 8) beliefs, expectations, and preferences for treatment at baseline (22, 23); 9) class attendance (self-reported and class registers); and 10) use of yoga at home. We did not collect data on participants' use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other physical activities.
Finally, participants were asked to call if they experienced an adverse event or became pregnant. All events were reported in accordance with National Research Ethics guidelines. Adverse events were assigned potential causality by 1 author (a practicing general practitioner and professor of primary and community care) within the time frame stated in the guidelines. There was no predefined list of possible adverse events. An independent steering committee reviewed all adverse events.
Statistical Analysis
The United Kingdom BEAM (Back Pain Exercise and Manipulation) trial (3) found that a change in the RMDQ score of 1.57 points was a cost-effective difference. Assuming an SD of 4 points (as in the United Kingdom BEAM sample size), this results in an effect size of 0.39. To detect this effect size, assuming 80% power and 20% attrition, we required a total of 262 participants (131 per group).
The analysis plan was agreed on in advance by an independent trial steering committee. Analyses were conducted according to the original randomized treatment assignment regardless of adherence to protocol. Analyses were performed by using SAS software, version 9.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina). The statistician was blinded to randomized group.
Analyses were conducted by using a linear mixed model (proc mixed in SAS) to compare changes from baseline in RMDQ scores between the groups over time. The linear mixed model assumed that data were missing at random. Time was treated as a categorical variable and was included as a fixed effect in addition to group, age, sex, eligibility RMDQ score, class preference (stratification factor), group and time interaction, and duration of back pain. The likelihood ratio test was used to select the best covariance pattern. Model diagnostics showed that residuals were normally distributed with constant variance, and random intercept effects did not depart significantly from the normal distribution (24, 25). Difference in scores between the groups at 3 (primary outcome) months and at 6 and 12 months (secondary outcomes), and 95% CIs were estimated from the model. To explore the effect of participant intervention preference, the above model was extended to include intervention preference and an interaction term between intervention preference and group. The Fisher exact test was also used to explore the association between adherence and intervention preference.
To assess departures from the missing-at-random assumption in the primary outcome model, a best-case and worst-case sensitivity analysis was undertaken. Under the best-case analysis, all yoga participants with missing data were assigned the lowest RMDQ score from yoga participants with observed data, and all usual care participants with missing data were assigned the highest RMDQ score from usual care participants with observed data. Under the worst-case analysis, all yoga participants with missing data were assigned the highest RMDQ score from yoga participants with observed data, and all usual care participants with missing data were assigned the lowest RMDQ score from usual care participants with observed data.
The ABPS, SF-12 mental and physical component scores, and PSEQ were analyzed by using the same analysis method as used for the primary outcome. The number of adverse events by participant and the total number of events by group were summarized.
Role of the Funding Source
This trial was funded by Arthritis Research UK and sponsored by the University of York. The funding source had no role in designing the study; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting the data; writing the report; or deciding to submit the manuscript for publication.
Results
A total of 1093 individuals with low back pain were screened, and 313 (28.7%) were randomly assigned from 5 centers: 156 to yoga and 157 to usual care (Figure 1). Participants were mostly middle-aged employed women (Table 1); the average duration of back pain was 10 years (SD, 9.7), and 77% had current back pain. At baseline, 207 (67%) participants expressed a preference for yoga, 11 (4%) preferred usual care, and 93 (30%) had no preference. Two participants did not express a preference.
Figure 1. Study flow diagram.
GP = general practitioner.
* An indicator of a more serious medical condition.
† Baseline questionnaires were sent out after randomization to the first-wave participants (n = 165) and before randomization to the second-wave participants (n = 148). Participants who did not return a baseline questionnaire in the second wave were not randomly assigned.
‡ Participants who did not return a questionnaire at that time point but completed questionnaires at subsequent follow-ups. Therefore, the numbers given for “questionnaire not returned” are not cumulative. Number included in analysis refers to numbers included in the main mean Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire analyses.
Study Treatments
There were 16 yoga courses, and the average number of participants allocated to each was 9.75 (SD, 3.68; median, 10 [range, 3 to 15]). The range in mean change from baseline RMDQ scores at 3 months by class was −6.5 to 0. Ninety-three (60%) participants attended at least 3 of the first 6 classes and at least any other 3 classes (adhered); of the remaining participants, 40 (26%) attended at least 1 class but did not meet the above criteria (mean attendance, 3.1; median attendance, 3.0 [range, 1 to 8]) and 23 (15%) did not attend any classes. Of participants who adhered, 72% (n = 66) expressed a preference for yoga at baseline, 1% (n = 1) preferred usual care, and 27% (n = 25) had no preference; 1 person did not express a preference. Of participants who did not adhere, 73% (n = 46) expressed a preference for yoga, 5% (n = 3) preferred usual care, and 22% (n = 14) had no preference. There was no association between treatment preference at baseline and adherence (P = 0.39, Fisher exact test).
RMDQ Scores
The yoga group had better back function at 3 (primary outcome), 6, and 12 (secondary outcomes) months than the usual care group (Figure 2 and Table 2). The adjusted mean RMDQ score was 2.17 points (95% CI, 1.03 to 3.31 points) lower in the yoga group at 3 months, 1.48 points (CI, 0.33 to 2.62 points) lower at 6 months, and 1.57 points (CI, 0.42 to 2.71 points) lower at 12 months.
Figure 2. Mean RMDQ scores over time, by randomly assigned group.
Mean changes from baseline are all predicted means and 95% CIs, estimated from the mixed-effects models, and were adjusted by month, age, sex, eligibility score, class availability, and duration of back pain as fixed effects and random intercepts as random effects. RMDQ = Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire.
There was no overall association between RMDQ score and class preference (P = 0.119), and the effect of treatment did not vary by baseline intervention preference (P for interaction = 0.39) or whether the participant had current back pain at baseline (P for interaction = 0.27).
Sensitivity Analyses
Under the best-case analysis, participants in the yoga group continued to have better back function at 3, 6, and 12 months than participants in the usual care group, with larger treatment effect estimates (Table 2). Conversely, under the worst-case analysis, there was no evidence of a difference in back function between the yoga and usual care groups.
Secondary Outcome Measures
The yoga and usual care groups had similar back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months; the yoga group had higher pain self-efficacy scores at 3 and 6 months but not at 12 months (Table 3). There was no association at all time points between pain and general health and treatment (ABPS, P = 0.136; SF-12 physical component score, P = 0.21; SF-12 mental component score, P = 0.145), and the results did not vary by month of follow-up (P for interaction for ABPS = 0.39; for SF-12 physical component score = 0.82; for SF-12 mental component score = 0.24). There was an association over all time points between the PSEQ score and treatment (P = 0.022), and the effect of treatment did not vary by month of follow-up (P for interaction = 0.36).
For all secondary outcome measures, there were differential rates of missing outcome data between the 2 groups. The rates of missing data ranged from 17% to 21% in the yoga group and 13% to 17% in the usual care group.
Adverse Events
Twelve of 156 (8%) yoga participants and 2 of 157 (1%) usual care participants reported adverse events (Table 4). In the yoga group, 1 adverse event was classified as serious and possibly or probably related to yoga (the participant experienced severe pain but had a history of severe pain after any physical activity); the remaining 11 were classified as nonserious and mostly related to increased pain. In the usual care group, 2 serious adverse events occurred.
Discussion
This trial found that offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than usual care. The improvements in back function were observed across the 12-month follow-up period but were more pronounced at 3 months, immediately after the intervention. Although there was no evidence of pain reduction at 12 months, confidence in performing normal activities despite pain improved more in the yoga group than usual care group at 3 and 6 months. We found little change in back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months. Yoga seemed to be a safe form of activity, with only 8 participants reporting adverse events that were possibly or probably related to yoga.
Although there is no consensus, a change of 1.1 to 2.5 on the RMDQ has been recommended as clinically important (26, 27). In this trial, we found that individuals offered yoga benefited from, on average, 2.17 fewer limited activities at 3 months and by 1.57 fewer limited activities at 12 months. The activities measured by the RMDQ include, for example, walking more slowly than usual, standing for only short periods, and not doing any of the usual jobs around the house. The fact that the benefits diminished over time, after the classes had finished, may indicate that additional classes would be required to maintain the improvement in back function.
Some participants in the yoga group reported that they attended other yoga classes after the 12-week program had finished, and others reported that they continued with home practice (Appendix Tables 1 and 2). The frequency of home practice was 82% in the first 3 months and then decreased to 65% at 6 months and 60% at 12 months; however, 13% of the yoga group did not provide home practice data at any of the follow-up points. The reported figures of home practice may explain why we observed some improvement in back function in the long term. Of note, some participants who did not adhere to the yoga program still reported home practice at 12 months.
Sixty percent of participants offered yoga adhered to the program: Of the remaining participants, 26% attended at least 1 class but did not fully adhere, and 15% did not attend any classes. Reasons for nonattendance varied: withdrawal by physician, work commitments, child care, and other health problems. For 21 of the 40 participants who partially adhered, we could not ascertain reasons for nonattendance. There were missing data for all outcomes, and differential rates of missing data were observed for secondary outcome measures. Hence, it is possible that such imbalances may have biased the results.
When departures from the missing-at-random assumption were assessed in the primary outcome model, the results were consistent with those of our primary analysis under the best-case scenario but were inconsistent under the worst-case scenario. These analyses are useful because they demonstrate the largest and smallest effect estimates compatible with the observed data; however, they are both unlikely scenarios. Unfortunately, the implications of missing data for the analysis depend on the missing-value mechanism, and this is rarely known.
Ours was a large randomized trial with long-term follow-up, including multiple teachers (n = 12) delivering classes in 5 geographic areas. The program was acceptable to and taught by teachers from 2 yoga associations. Checks were made to ensure fidelity to the program. A recent review identified 7 other randomized, controlled trials evaluating yoga for low back pain (6–12), but all had design limitations, including small sample sizes, a single yoga teacher delivering the program, and short-term follow-up. Most of the studies found differences in favor of yoga, and our results are consistent with their findings.
Other interventions for low back pain that have been evaluated in high-quality randomized, controlled trials include exercise and manipulation (3), the Alexander technique (26), and cognitive behavioral treatment (27). Comparing the findings of this study with these other interventions suggests that group yoga may improve back function (as measured by the RMDQ) more than exercise and manipulation, cognitive behavioral treatment, and 6 sessions of 1-to-1 Alexander technique but not as much as 24 sessions (Figure 3). However, we must be cautious about overanalyzing these results because the comparisons are indirect. Future research should compare yoga directly with these other treatments.
Figure 3. Forest plot comparing yoga with other interventions for low back pain evaluated in high-quality randomized, controlled trials.
RMDQ = Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire; UK BEAM = United Kingdom Back Pain Exercise and Manipulation.
In summary, we found that offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than usual care for up to 12 months. Yoga seems to be a safe and effective activity that clinicians could consider recommending for patients with a history of low back pain.
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Williams K, Abildso C, Steinberg L, Doyle E, Epstein B, Smith D, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficacy of Iyengar yoga therapy on chronic low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009;34:2066-76. [PMID: 19701112]
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Cox H, Tilbrook H, Aplin J, Chuang LH, Hewitt C, Jayakody S, et al. A pragmatic multi-centred randomised controlled trial of yoga for chronic low back pain: trial protocol. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2010;16:76-80. [PMID: 20347837]
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Annals of Internal Medicine
Volume 155 • Number 9 • 1 November 2011
Pages: 569 - 578
History
Published online: 1 November 2011
Published in issue: 1 November 2011
Keywords
- Adverse events
- Diagnostic medicine
- Exercise
- Health care
- Health economics
- Health surveys
- Hospital medicine
- Medical conditions
- Muscle functions
- Musculoskeletal system
- Pain
- Prevention, policy, and public health
- Research and reporting methods
- Research design
- Rheumatology
- Signs and symptoms
- Sports and exercise medicine
- Statistical data
- Statistical methods
- Survey research
Copyright
© 2011 American College of Physicians.
Authors
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Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med.2011;155:569-578. [Epub 1 November 2011]. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-9-201111010-00003
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Missing and Confusing information
I read with interest your article on "Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain." There is no doubt in my mind that continuing the yoga intervention would have improved the longterm benefits like any fitness program. However, there are some missing and confusing information about this study. First of all, there was no description of what kind of yoga was practiced as well as what information was given to the control group. I specialize in teaching yoga to special populations and offer classes that are specifically tailored for the people I teach. Of course, one size never fits all, I would be interested in knowing what poses they were teaching. Did they incorporate core strengthening? Did they use props? Also, on page 572, table 1, there is mention that all subjects were male and yet in the body of the text, the authors refer to research participants as 'individual adults' and do not mention gender. can you clarify as to what gender was researched? This research is an important piece in validating the therapeutic aspects of yoga, however, it would be helpful to fully understand how the research was conducted. Thanks.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
Body-Mind Exercise For Chronic Low Back Pain.
Yoga is a well known body-mind exercise which has been proven to stabilize mind and further improve physical inability. With some evidence, yoga may reduce inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and this can support the relief for chronic back pain. In comparison to another body-mind exercise, tai-chi exercise, a number of similar studies have been done. Many reports indicated that tai-chi exercise can improve self-estimated quality of life, mood and physical tolerance for patients with heart failure.(1) In a recent study by Hall et al, tai-chi exercise reduced bothersomeness of back symptoms by 1.7 points on a 0-10 scale, reduced pain intensity by 1.3 points on a 0-10 scale, and improved self-report disability by 2.6 points on the 0-24 Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scale over a 10- week period.(2) This finding is very close to the results of yoga. Accordingly, we believe that, body-mind exercise like yoga or tai-chi exercise may relieve people with chronic back pain via stabilizing their mood and then affect the performance of physical activity.
Reference
1. Yeh GY, McCarthy EP, Wayne PM, Stevenson LW, Wood MJ, Forman D, Davis RB, Phillips RS. Tai chi exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171:750-7.
2. Hall AM, Maher CG, Lam P, Ferreira M, Latimer J. Tai chi exercise for treatment of pain and disability in people with persistent low back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63:1576-83
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
The comparision of this trial with the ATEAM trial
This well-conducted trial contributes to the growing body of knowledge about interventions that can complement usual GP care for those suffering from chronic low back pain. I was interested to see the post- hoc comparison with the outcome of the ATEAM trial, which evaluated the effectiveness of lessons in the Alexander Technique for chronic low back pain patients, but it is worth noting that the Roland Morris disability score is the only outcome measure in common between these two studies. In the ATEAM trial there was a second main outcome measure - of the number of days in pain during the past 4 weeks - which demonstrated significant long -term (1 year) reductions in the number of days in pain following lessons.
In the yoga trial there was no significant effect on back pain scores although some improvement was noted in a pain self-efficacy measure at the 3 and 6 month timepoints. Unfortunately the benefit in Roland Morris score tailed off over time, whereas in the ATEAM trial, improvement in both the Roland Morris and days in pain scores of participants receiving Alexander lessons was maintained at 12 months. This outcome appears to be in keeping with the primarily educational nature of Alexander Technique lessons, and suggests that a majority of participants continued to apply what they had learnt and use the Alexander Technique to maintain their recovery after the lessons had ceased.
A direct comparative trial of these two interventions, or indeed, a trial of yoga and Alexander Technique lessons compared with usual care, would be of interest. They are not incompatible and each has something different to contribute.
References
1. Little P, Lewith G, Webley F et al. Randomised controlled trial of Alexander Technique lessons, exercise and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. BMJ 2008; 337: a884.
2. Yardley L, Dennison L, Coker R, Webley F, Middleton K, Barnett J, Beattie A, Evans M, Smith P, Little P. Patients' views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial. Fam Pract. 2009 Dec 23.
3. Beattie A, Shaw A, Yardley L, Little P, Sharp D. Participating in and delivering the ATEAM trial (Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage) interventions for chronic back pain: A qualitative study of professional perspectives. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2010;18:119 -27.
Conflict of Interest:
I am the Chair of the Scientific Research Committee of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (STAT) which is the largest and oldest professional body for Alexander Technique teachers in the UK
A Triumph?
When I read the headlines about this trial in the popular press and then went on to read the publication, I thought for a moment that some mistake had been made. By and large the media have reported this trial as demonstrating that yoga is a 'cure' for back pain. The researchers own website declares yoga a 'triumph' (https://hscisrv07.york.ac.uk/yoga/html/index.html). It is, of course, no such thing. The authors find a very modest but short term improvement in Roland Morris disability score which clearly does not achieve clinical significance. They state rather disingenuously that 'Although there is no consensus, a change of 1.1 to 2.5 on the RMDQ has been recommended as clinically important' citing two trials who used this range in their conclusions. Roland recommended at least a 2-3 point change should be considered the minimum clinically important change (1). Contrary to the authors view, there is a good deal of consensus as to what constitutes a minimum clinically important change in the Roland Morris score. Ostelo and co-workers for example, in an effort to reach an international consensus, proposed at least a 5 point difference (2). In this context, yoga is no triumph. One could even argue that given that this sort of pragmatic trial ('treatment + usual care vs. usual care') will almost never generate a negative result, one would have expected yoga to fair rather better. The real message here is that yoga does not make back pain any better. A small but clinically meaningless and shortlived improvement in function, almost certainly the result of the inherent biases of this sadly popular trial design is not the stuff of headlines.
Dr S P Ward FRCA FFPMRCA Consultant in Pain Medicine
1. Bombardier C, Hayden J, Beaton DE. Minimal clinically important difference. Low back pain: outcome measures.J Rheumatol. 2001 Feb;28(2):431-8. 2. Ostelo RW et al. Interpreting change scores for pain and functional status in low back pain: towards international consensus regarding minimal important change. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Jan 1;33(1):90-4.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared