Therapeutic Application of Iyengar Yoga for Healing Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Low back pain is a significant public health problem that has reached epidemic proportions. It places a substantial burden on the workforce and the health care system.1It has proven very difficult to treat, and it is one of the most commonly reported reasons for the use of complementary and alternative medicine.2 Many different methods of Yoga exist and each has its own technique for preventing and treating disease. This article describes the rationale and method for the therapeutic application of Iyengar Yoga for chronic low back pain. Preliminary results are also presented from a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of a 16-week program of Iyengar Yoga therapy in persons with non-specific chronic low back pain.