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This Ancient Practice Offers Natural Migraine Relief, NEW Study Reveals

AHA Publisher — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:00:45 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – For those who suffer from migraine headaches, the throbbing, pulsing pain – sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light – can seem unbearable. And the fact that attacks can last for hours and even days adds another layer of misery. Western medicine attempts to treat migraines with drugs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, barbiturates, and opioids. But, the adverse effects of these medications can run the gamut from drowsiness and confusion to addiction, stomach ulcers, and liver damage. Sadly, only about half of migraine sufferers report relief from taking prescribed medications. But, there is some good news: a new study published in the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology reveals that yoga benefits migraines – and allows patients to take fewer drugs. Reduce the Severity and Frequency of Migraine Headaches by Adding This Practice to Your Treatment Plan The 2020 study published in Neurology involved 114 adult volunteers who experienced between four and 14 migraine headaches a month. Participants were randomly divided into two groups – one taking their regular migraine medications and one in which yoga was added to the regimen. The yoga consisted of an hour-long routine of breathing, relaxation techniques, and yoga postures. For the first month, the volunteers in the yoga group were supervised by an instructor three days a week. Over the next two months, they performed the yoga at home five days a week. Both groups received identical counseling regarding common-sense lifestyle techniques to manage migraines, including getting sufficient sleep, eating properly, and exercising regularly. After three months, the results were definitive: adding yoga offers natural migraine relief. Adding a yoga routine to a regimen of prescribed medications significantly reduced the severity and frequency of headaches. Impressive Study Results: Do This Regularly to Reduce Your Medication in Only Three Months The team reported that while patients in both groups experienced improvements in headache frequency, duration, and impact on daily life, the yoga group’s benefits were more pronounced. In fact, the yoga group ended up with an average of 4.7 migraine headaches a month – down from 9.1 – while the medication-only group cut their headaches by only 12 percent (a much more modest decrease). In addition, the yoga group was able to take less medication, with their average usage dropping by a hefty 47 percent by the end of the three-month study. Once again, the meds-only group didn’t fare as well. In fact, this group’s decrease in the number of pills taken was only 12 percent (again!) The lead author of the study – Rohit Bhatia, M.D., D.M., D.N.B. – pointed out a financial benefit of yoga as well. The yoga group did not need to purchase as much medication, thereby reducing the treatment costs – what Dr. Bhatia called a “game-changer” for those struggling to afford expensive prescription drugs. Yoga Offers Remarkable Benefits to People With Multiple Other Health Conditions Previous research has shown that yoga can help ease harmful psychological and physical conditions, such as chronic back pain, systemic inflammation, insomnia, and depressive rumination (unhelpful obsessing over real or imagined problems). A relatively recent study has highlighted the ability of yoga to reduce the symptoms of chronic concussion. Chronic concussion symptoms – which include headaches, fatigue, and depression – are sometimes described as the “invisible injury” in brain trauma incidents – and are notoriously difficult to treat. In the first-ever meta-analysis of research on the effects of yoga and mindfulness techniques on chronic concussion symptoms, the authors reported that these natural interventions could significantly cut fatigue and depression while improving cognitive performance and quality of life. The researchers, who called the results “remarkable,” reported that mind-body interventions for mild traumatic brain injury “consistently improved symptoms” in nearly every measured outcome – with no reported adverse effects. The team added that the approach – while not a miracle cure – is a valuable tool that can provide benefits over time. To conduct the review, which was published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, the investigators looked at 22 different studies involving a total of 539 participants. Ward Off Migraines With Natural Techniques and Powerful Nutrients Early interventions may help stop a migraine headache before it takes hold. At the first sign of a migraine – which can involve such diverse symptoms as sudden mood changes, food cravings, frequent yawning, and visual disturbances – experts advise seeking out a quiet, darkened place. Hot compresses applied to the head and neck can sometimes help deter an attack – as can heating pads and warm baths. (Alternately, some migraine sufferers report successfully warding off a migraine with ice-cold compresses). Avoid skipping meals, and steer clear of nicotine, alcohol, and processed foods laden with preservatives and sodium. It’s a good idea to keep a journal to discover what provokes migraines for you – remember: chocolate, aged cheeses, and wine are common culprits. And, getting sufficient exercise can help release serotonin and endorphins, neurochemicals that play a vital role in regulating pain perception. Other natural treatments for migraines include ginger root, valerian, and peppermint. Inhaling the scent of lavender through aromatherapy has also been shown to relieve migraines. Maybe it’s a good time for you and your integrative doctor to discuss the possibility of supplementing your migraine treatments with yoga. After all, it’s simple, accessible, non-invasive, and drug-free. And, in the words of Dr. Bhatia, “All you need is a mat.” Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com Wiley.com MayoClinic.org MayoClinic.org To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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A New Handheld Device Aims to Calm Panic Attacks Fast

AHA Publisher — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 08:00:50 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Adi Wallach started experiencing panic attacks while pursuing her undergraduate degree at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. “I was at the movies with friends the first time it happened,” Wallach tells ISRAEL21c. “I felt my heart starting to race. Then I didn’t feel my legs.” Wallach headed home and climbed into bed, hoping she’d feel better in the morning. But she woke with the same symptoms. At this point, she says, “I was afraid I was going to lose my sanity.” She actually drove to her mother’s house “to say goodbye.” Her mother, Dr. Orna Levin, a physician, however, recognized what was going on and explained to Wallach that she was having a panic attack. The episodes didn’t go away with this new knowledge, unfortunately. “Sometimes I had six to seven panic attacks a day,” Wallach says. Wallach tried every solution short of medication – therapy, yoga, biofeedback. “I changed my diet, started taking supplements, tried acupuncture. They were somewhat effective, but I was not able to use them fast enough to stop the attacks. I started avoiding places that might trigger an attack. I didn’t go to the movies for years. I stopped swimming. I was afraid of flying.” Wallach’s degree from the Technion is in biomedical engineering. Could she engineer her way out of her panic attacks, she wondered, and build a medical device that could provide calming relief? Together with her mother, Wallach founded Dendro Technologies. Today, for $179, you can purchase their solution to panic attacks: CalmiGo, a handheld device that looks like an asthma inhaler and that engages vision, touch and smell to reduce stress. Especially these days with Covid-19 showing no signs of slowing down, CalmiGo comes at a particularly apt moment of collective anxiety. Launched in 2019, CalmiGo has sold 20,000 units on Amazon.com, on the CalmiGo website and via third parties such as the FSA Store. The US Veteran’s Administration is buying CalmiGo devices to distribute for free to veterans, and the IRS has approved CalmiGo as a health-related expense, making it tax deductible in the United States. How it Works CalmiGo first and foremost helps regulate breathing, although not in a way that requires cognitive effort. That’s important because popular breathing techniques require concentration while counting. The problem is that counting “activates the sympathetic nervous system at a time when you want to quiet it,” Wallach tells ISRAEL21c. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the body’s flight-or-fight response. In contrast, “we activate the parasympathetic nervous system in the brain, which is responsible for the relaxation response in the body,” Wallach explains. A series of three blinking lights on the CalmiGo device guides your exhalations. When the third light comes on, you breathe in again. You don’t have to think or count –just breathe. The device has a learning mechanism, Wallach says, that tracks your breathing patterns and adjusts itself to gradually slow your exhalations over the three-minute recommended period of use. (Three minutes three times a day works best, Wallach adds.) CalmiGo has an optional function that vibrates the device when you’ve finished exhaling. That addresses another sense – touch – in much the same way that the flashing lights engage vision. (The vibration, it should be noted, may not be quiet enough to use before bed with a partner.) The third sense is smell. Every CalmiGo unit is shipped with lavender, peppermint or bergamot “scent panels” which snap onto the front of the device. “We embed aromatherapy oil onto a solid element, so there are no liquids to worry about,” Wallach says. Each panel lasts three to six weeks. Portable Wallach insisted that CalmiGo be small enough to fit into a purse or pocket and super easy to use. “Even a high-tech person can’t use a sophisticated tool during a panic attack,” Wallach says. “We needed it to be simple and effective in just a few minutes.” Activating the parasympathetic system for relaxation is not unique to CalmiGo, of course – yoga and meditation do much the same. “But CalmiGo provides immediate relief, which is harder to do,” Wallach says. “Yoga is great for the long term. But most people are not able to integrate something like that into their daily routine. CalmiGo takes just a few minutes and you don’t need a specific environment or a quiet room. You can use it on a subway or on an airplane.” Speaking of airplanes, can CalmiGo help with mental stress beyond panic attacks – for example insomnia or fear of flying? Wallach stresses that CalmiGo is “not a medical device. But, yes, it can help people who have a hard time sleeping.” And Wallach has used CalmiGo to help with her own flying fears. The device’s components are sourced from China and assembled in the United States, where most of the company’s sales have been so far. Dendro Technologies has raised $3 million from angels and several smaller VCs, including Israeli Alon Matas, whose Silicon Valley-based online therapy startup Better Help has also seen a boost in interest as a result of Covid-19-fueled anxiety. Exam Anxiety, PTSD CalmiGo has been extensively tested. One study was done at Israel’s private university IDC with students who suffer from exam anxiety. A control group used standard breathing techniques while the other received CalmiGo; the latter showed significantly more improvement. The results are due to be published in the Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. Another study looked at veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. “We found a significant decrease in both PTSD and anxiety after just two weeks of use,” Wallach notes. A third study being conducted in the oncology department at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel is following health professionals who suffer from burnout, and cancer patients with a high degree of stress. And a US clinical study is ongoing in the emergency department at Northwell Health in New York. Results are expected by the end of 2021. Some 40% of American adults are showing signs of anxiety and depression since the Covid-19 crisis broke out last year. Wallach sees this as a positive in some ways. “Everything related to mental health is more out in the open. Even the business magazines are now talking about mental health,” she notes. One of Wallach’s most poignant success stories comes from the mother of a child with Tourette’s Syndrome. “Covid really triggered him, but his mother didn’t want to put him on any more medication. They bought CalmiGo and it helped a lot. The mother wrote to me, ‘I got my boy back.’ This meant everything to me.” Wallach relocated to New York last year to focus on the company’s sales and marketing. R&D, headed by her mother, is in Israel. Wallach is the company’s CEO; Levin, who focuses on herbal medicine, acupuncture and nutrition in her medical practice, is Dendro’s president. If Wallach hadn’t been forced to confront her own panic attacks, she might be just another high-tech highflyer. She has been working in the industry for 19 years, including 10 in the defense industry. Before that, she managed R&D for a 3D printer company. She never expected to be in the medical devices business, but CalmiGo has become not only her passion but a business she hopes will be transformative for people navigating a stressful modern age – Covid-19 or not. The best news for Wallach: “My last panic attack was over three years ago and I was able to stop it in less than two minutes by using CalmiGo,” she says. To try out CalmiGo, visit the website. Click here for more on the science behind CalmiGo. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Yoga Helps Manage Symptoms in Atrial Fibrillation Patients, New Study

AHA Publisher — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 08:00:36 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – Atrial fibrillation (sometimes referred to as AFib) affects an estimated 2.7 million Americans, and this heart rhythm disorder increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, blood clots, and additional complications. This point can’t be overemphasized: AFib isresponsible for between 20-30% of all strokes and can significantly increase the risk of premature death. Some of the symptoms of atrial fibrillation include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, irregular pulse, racing heart rate, chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue. These symptoms are often stressful for patients, resulting in anxiety and limiting their ability to lead normal lives. However, new research has found that practicing yoga regularly eases the symptoms associated with AFib. Got atrial fibrillation? Discover why the practice of yoga could prove to be a “lifesaver” Researchers decided to investigate whether yoga – which is known for offering many health benefits – would ease the symptoms of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. More than 500 patients were enrolled in the study, and they started with 12 weeks of no yoga, monitoring patient symptoms. Then, patients did 30-minute yoga sessions, including breathing and postures, every other day for 16 weeks. During those 16 weeks, they were encouraged to practice the breathing and movements daily at home, too. Patients recorded their symptoms and AFib episodes in a diary during both the non-yoga and yoga periods. Certain patients wore heart monitors as well to verify any atrial fibrillation episodes. Each patient completed depression and anxiety surveys as well as a questionnaire that assessed their mood, energy levels, and ability to keep up with routine daily activities. Researchers also measured blood pressure and heart rate. At the end of the study, the outcomes between the non-yoga and yoga periods were compared. The yoga period resulted in significant improvements in every area when compared to the non-yoga period. Patients only experienced an average of eight AFib episodes during the yoga period compared to 15 during the shorter non-yoga period. Researchers also observed a significant reduction in blood pressure after patients went through yoga training. Beyond AFib: Additional health benefits of yoga According to researchers, this new study shows the wide range of mental health and physical benefits for patients diagnosed with A-fib. But yoga offers additional health benefits from which anyone can benefit. Some of the science-backed benefits include: Stress reduction: Studies show yoga decreases the production of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, and significantly lowers levels of anxiety and stress. Reduces inflammation: Researchers have found that practicing yoga regularly may reduce the markers of inflammation, a significant benefit since inflammation contributes to the development of diseases like cancer heart disease, and diabetes. Boosts heart health: Multiple studies show that yoga lowers pulse rate, blood pressure, and may even contribute to helping individuals lower their bad cholesterol levels. Fights depression: According to researchers, the ability of yoga to decrease cortisol production may create an antidepressant effect. Combats chronic pain: A growing body of research demonstrates that regular yoga practice may help reduce chronic pain associated with diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The main message of this article is clear: lifestyle changes can have a profound (positive) effect on heart health and overall wellbeing. Work with a qualified healthcare provider and enjoy the rewards of a healthy lifestyle. Sources for this article include: Sciencedaily.com, Heart.org, Healthline.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Yoga Shown to Improve Anxiety, Study Shows

AHA Publisher — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:00:50 +0000

NYU Langone Health via Newswise – Yoga improves symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, a condition with chronic nervousness and worry, suggesting the popular practice may be helpful in treating anxiety in some people. Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a new study found that yoga was significantly more effective for generalized anxiety disorder than standard education on stress management, but not effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the gold standard form of structured talk therapy that helps patients identify negative thinking for better responses to challenges. “Generalized anxiety disorder is a very common condition, yet many are not willing or able to access evidence-based treatments,” says lead study author Naomi M. Simon, MD, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. “Our findings demonstrate that yoga, which is safe and widely available, can improve symptoms for some people with this disorder and could be a valuable tool in an overall treatment plan.” For the study, 226 men and women with generalized anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to three groups – either CBT, Kundalini yoga, or stress-management education, a standardized control technique. After three months, both CBT and yoga were found to be significantly more effective for anxiety than stress management. Specifically, 54 percent of those who practiced yoga met response criteria for meaningfully improved symptoms compared to 33 percent in the stress-education group. Of those treated with CBT, 71 percent met these symptom improvement criteria. However, after six months of follow-up, the CBT response remained significantly better than stress education (the control therapy), while yoga was no longer significantly better, suggesting CBT may have more robust, longer-lasting anxiety-reducing effects. The results were published online Aug. 12 in JAMA Psychiatry. Study Details The study involved an evidence-based protocol for CBT treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, including psychoeducation, cognitive interventions (focused on identifying and adapting maladaptive thoughts and worrying), and muscle relaxation techniques. Kundalini yoga included physical postures, breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, yoga theory, and meditation/mindfulness practice. The stress-management education control group received lectures about the physiological, psychological and medical effects of stress, as well as the antianxiety effects of lifestyle behaviors, such as reducing alcohol and smoking, and the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. Homework consisted of listening to educational material about stress, nutrition, and lifestyle. Each treatment was administered in groups of three to six participants, over weekly two-hour sessions for 12 weeks with 20 minutes of daily homework assigned. Can Yoga Help Treat Anxiety? According to researchers, generalized anxiety disorder is a common, impairing, and undertreated condition, currently affecting an estimated 6.8 million Americans. While most people feel anxious from time to time, it is considered a disorder when worrying becomes excessive and interferes with day-to-day life. CBT is considered the gold standard first-line treatment. Medications, including antidepressants and sometimes benzodiazepines, may also be used. Yet, not everyone is willing to take medication which can have adverse side effects and there are challenges with accessing CBT for many, including lack of access to trained therapists and long waitlists. “Many people already seek complementary and alternative interventions, including yoga, to treat anxiety,” says Dr. Simon. “This study suggests that at least short-term there is significant value for people with generalized anxiety disorder to give yoga a try to see if it works for them. Yoga is well-tolerated, easily accessible, and has a number of health benefits.” According to Dr. Simon, future research should aim to understand who is most likely to benefit from yoga for generalized anxiety disorder to help providers better personalize treatment recommendations. “We need more options to treat anxiety because different people will respond to different interventions, and having more options can help overcome barriers to care,” she says. “Having a range of effective treatments can increase the likelihood people with anxiety will be willing to engage in evidence-based care.” This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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Reduce Breast Cancer Risk Today With This Simple Activity

AHA Publisher — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 07:00:33 +0000

Lori Clarkson via NaturalHealth365 – One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. alone, that’s 12% of the female population. Apart from lung cancer, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women today. However, breaking new research has unveiled the simple activity that anyone can do pre- and post-cancer to reduce breast cancer death and return rates. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and surveyed the patient’s lifestyle habits before and after their breast cancer diagnosis. The results they found in high-risk stage 2, and 3 cancer patients were shocking! They discovered that patients who undertook a straightforward activity for 30 minutes per day increased their chances of survival of over 50%. Research Reveals the Activity That Reduced Breast Cancer Death by 68% The study analyzed 2,716 high-risk breast cancer patients; 1,607 responded to the survey, which involved questions on lifestyle habits. The survey asked questions about lifestyle, including exercise, before, during, and after chemotherapy treatment. The simple activity that had an incredible impact on both breast cancer survival and recurrence was exercise. The patients who met the federal guidelines for exercise had a 68% reduction in death rates compared to the high-risk patients who did not exercise beforehand. These same patients also benefited from a 55% reduction in breast cancers returning. The evidence is clear: those who exercise for as little as 30 minutes per day are more likely to survive. Reducing Breast Cancer in Patients Who Haven’t Exercised Precancer The benefits received for those who had lived an active lifestyle precancer are undeniable. What about those who already have cancer? It still isn’t too late to make positive changes. The study revealed that patients who began exercising post-cancer treatment had a 43% reduction in death risk compared to those who did not start exercising. Furthermore, those who engaged in consistent, weekly exercise had a 46% decrease in breast cancer recurrences. Considering that high-risk breast cancers have the highest rate of return in patients, these results are truly remarkable. Beginning exercise can be a challenging behavioral change, but you can receive the benefits today with just a small amount of weekly movement. The study lead, Rikki Cannioto, said, “Aiming for as little as two and half hours a week of exercise – the minimum under federal guidelines – can have a big impact for women with high-risk breast cancer.” Start Exercising Today: The Best Type and Length of Exercise If you don’ enjoy exercise or if you simply don’t have the energy, we have good news for you. Cannioto said, “It’s never too late to start walking, doing yoga, cycling, or swimming – and that activity certainly appears to pay off.” As you have seen from the results, you don’t even have to meet the CDC guidelines to receive lifesaving results. Here are some simple suggestions that are proven to reduce breast cancer return and death rates. Just 30 minutes of yoga will not only benefit your breast cancer journey, but it will also alleviate stress. Cancer is a stressful journey for anyone, and the hormones that fire while under stress aren’t helpful to your recovery. There are many forms of yoga for varying ability levels that you can do at home or in a studio. A comfortable place to start for those who don’t partake in any exercise at all is walking. Thirty minutes of walking per day will raise your heart rate into the fat-burning zone which does wonders for your body. Over time, you can progress to walking uphill for more of a challenge. The cancer journey is isolating and incredibly detrimental to your mental health. Some social exercises are dance classes, a sport that you may have enjoyed in younger years, or join your local swim center. A word of caution: Obesity is already proven to make breast cancer cells more aggressive in the body. Breast cancer rates in men are also rising with an expected diagnosis of 2,620 cases in 2020. So, everyone must take charge of their health today and just 30 minutes of exercise daily is a great place to start. Sources for this article include: Medicalxpress.com, Academic.oup.com, Breastcancer.org, CDC.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Oh My Aching Back: Do Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong Help?

AHA Publisher — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 08:00:58 +0000

Florida Atlantic University via EurekAlert – Researchers provide comprehensive review of effects of movement-based mind-body interventions on chronic low back pain. It’s a pain. About 80 percent of adults in the United States will experience lower back pain at some point. Treating back pain typically involves medication, including opioids, surgery, therapy and self-care options. Efforts to reduce opioid use and increase physically based therapies to reduce pain and increase physical function and safety are crucial. Patients are often advised to use non-pharmacological treatments to manage lower back pain such as exercise and mind-body interventions. But, do they really help? In a review published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s College for Design and Social Inquiry and Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing evaluated the evidence of effects of three movement-based mind-body interventions on chronic low back pain. They examined yoga, tai chi, which combines gentle physical exercise and stretching with mindfulness, and qigong, a traditional Chinese meditative movement therapy focused on body awareness and attention during slow, relaxed, and fluid repetitive body movements. Little is known about the effects of movement-based mind-body intervention, in particular qigong and tai chi. Researchers compared and contrasted yoga, tai chi and qigong by examining frequency and duration of these interventions; primary and secondary outcomes; attrition rates and possible adverse events; and results. Findings from their review provide empirical evidence regarding the benefits of yoga, tai chi, and qigong, which have been recommended by health care providers for patients with lower back pain. “Back pain is a major public health issue often contributing to emotional distress such as depression and anxiety, as well as sleep issues and even social isolation,” said Juyoung Park, Ph.D., corresponding author and an associate professor in the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work within FAU’s College for Design and Social Inquiry. “We reviewed data to determine the effects of movement-based mind-body interventions on chronic back pain, psychological factors, coping strategies, and quality of life in people suffering with back pain. Our goal was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the effects of these interventions to be able to offer information across disciplines to implement evidence-based interventions to reduce such pain.” Of the 625 peer-reviewed articles the researchers identified, 32 met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results found that the majority of these 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 such as depression and anxiety, reduction in pain-related disability, and improved functional ability. Among the key findings, researchers discovered that longer duration and high-dose yoga intervention showed reductions in back pain while tai chi reduced acute lower back pain in males in their 20s. Tai chi also was more effective than stretching for lower back pain in young males. In the general community, tai chi showed greater reductions in pain intensity, bothersomeness of pain symptoms, and pain-related disability than the control intervention. Because there are only three qigong studies to date, it was unclear to the researchers whether this intervention is useful in treating chronic lower back pain. Existing research suggests positive benefits of yoga, however, tai chi and qigong for lower back pain are still under-investigated. “Two of the studies we examined in our review were focused on the effects of movement modality, specifically yoga, in veterans. Many military veterans and active duty military personnel experience chronic low back pain and are affected by this pain more than the general population,” said Cheryl Krause-Parello, Ph.D., co-author, a professor and director of Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors (C-P.A.W.W.) within FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, and a faculty fellow of FAU’s Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH). “Our review provides emerging evidence that movement-based mind-body interventions could benefit veterans and others experiencing chronic low back pain.” The review included both randomized and nonrandomized studies with a total of 3,484 subjects ages 33 to 73 years old. Study sample sizes ranged from 25 to 320 subjects. The majority of articles reported on yoga (25), followed by tai chi (four), and qigong (three). Most of the yoga studies were conducted in India, followed by the U.S., while other studies were conducted in Australia (tai chi) and Germany (qigong). People with chronic low back pain are at increased risk of functional limitations, job-related disability, and potential long-term disability. Moreover, the economic burden of chronic low back pain is high due to the cost of medications such as opioids, procedures, hospitalization, surgical treatment, and absence from work. “Yoga, tai chi and qigong could be used as effective treatment alternatives to pain medications, surgery, or injection-based treatments such as nerve blocks, which are associated with high incidence of adverse effects in treating lower back pain,” said Park. “We need more clinical trials and empirical evidence so that clinicians can prescribe these types of interventions with more confidence for managing lower back pain in their patients.” To read the original article click here.

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