Because of the high cost of medical intervention and the addiction implications of opioid use, authors of the study wanted to see if inexpensive and addiction free mind body therapies could be effective. Authors of the new review explained that chronic low back pain “often contributes to emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and social isolation,” and “no effective treatment has been identified.”
Following a thorough search of the existing research papers, the authors found 32 studies that met their criteria. These included 3,484 participants. Twenty-five of the studies focused on yoga, four examined tai chi, and three looked at qigong. Here is their conclusion:
"A majority of the 32 reviewed articles showed [movement-based mind-body interventions] to be effective for treatment of [low back pain], reporting positive outcomes such as reduction in pain or psychological distress (e.g., depression and anxiety), reduction in pain-related disability, and improved functional ability.”
(source: Medical News Today)