A systematic review and meta-analysis of yoga for low back pain

Design

• Systematic review + meta-analysis; 10 RCTs, n = 967 patients with chronic low back pain
• Comparator: various inactive / usual-care controls (yoga styles and session counts vary by trial)

Outcomes vs control (abstract)

• Pain short-term: SMD −0.48 (95% CI −0.65 to −0.31; P < 0.01)
• Back-specific disability short-term: SMD −0.59 (95% CI −0.87 to −0.30; P < 0.01)
• Global improvement: RR 3.27 (95% CI 1.89–5.66; P < 0.01)
• Pain long-term: SMD −0.33 (95% CI −0.59 to −0.07; P = 0.01)
• Back-specific disability long-term: SMD −0.35 (95% CI −0.55 to −0.15; P < 0.01)
• HRQoL: no significant short- or long-term pooled signal in abstract
• Safety: no serious adverse events attributed to yoga in included trials

Evidence hygiene

Effects are largest vs educational / passive comparators; uncertainty increases vs exercise active controls—read primary tables before marketing “yoga cures back pain.”

Publication

Cramer H, Lauche R, Haller H, Dobos G. Clin J Pain. 2013 May;29(5):450-460. PMID 23246998.