Chronic low back pain management: clinical and psychophysiological outcomes of multimodal approaches-a randomised controlled trial on yoga and mindfulness.
Yusra Saleem, Shamoon Noushad, Sadaf Ahmed, Basit Ansari
BMJ open sport & exercise medicine 2025 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002697 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthcare providers with chronic low back pain |
| Interventions | Sphinx pose yoga therapy Mindfulness-based stress reduction Usual care Combined yoga-MBSR intervention |
| Duration | 12-week intervention, with follow-up at 12 weeks after intervention (week 24) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Exercise physiology Intervention Physical activity Quality of life Chronic pain management Mind-body exercise therapy |
| Citations | 1 |
| Registration | NCT06910982 |
| Key findings | The trial will compare the efficacy of Sphinx pose yoga, MBSR, and their combination against usual care for chronic low back pain, with outcomes assessed at 12 and 24 weeks. |
Abstract
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) presents as a widespread medical issue which severely affects personal health status while generating substantial economic expenses. Traditional treatment methods often have limited efficacy, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapies such as yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). This study aims to compare the efficacy of Sphinx pose yoga and MBSR in managing CLBP. The focus is on evaluating improvements in pain intensity, functional disability, quality of life, heart rate variability and physiological markers associated with CLBP. This multicentre parallel-arm randomised controlled trial will compare the efficacy of yoga to MBSR for CLBP in healthcare providers. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: Sphinx pose yoga therapy (Group A), MBSR (Group B), usual care (Group C) and a combined yoga-MBSR intervention (Group D). Each intervention will last 12 weeks. Primary outcomes include pain intensity, functional disability (Oswestry Questionnaire) and physiological markers (cortisol, β-endorphins, substance-P, interleukin-6, C reactive protein). Secondary outcomes encompass quality of life (WHO Quality of Life), stress (Sadaf Stress Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) and heart rate variability. Data will be collected at baseline (week 0), at the end of the intervention (week 12) and 12 weeks after the intervention (week 24). Trial registration number NCT06910982.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- How Does Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification Affect Pain Intensity, Pain Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Patients? An Experimental Single-Case Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine May 31, 2023
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on physical function in individuals with chronic low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice November 2022
- A Systematic Review of Mindfulness Practices for Improving Outcomes in Chronic Low Back Pain. International Journal of Yoga 2020
- Mindfulness-based interventions for chronic pain: Evidence and applications. Asian Journal of Psychiatry February 2018