Effect of yoga therapy on chronic low back pain a randomized control study

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Burden-global

Low back pain is a major clinical and public health problem. Low back pain is a leading

cause of disability. It occurs in similar proportions in all cultures, interferes with quality

of life and work performance, and is one of the most common reasons for medical

consultations (Ehrlich et al, 2003). It carries a set of challenges involving sensory and

distressful aspects i.e. pain and disability. Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is the most

frequent cause of activity limitation in people below the age of 45 years and the second

most frequent reason for visits to primary care physicians in the United States. About 1%

of the US population is chronically disabled due to low back pain (Andersson, 1997). It is

a very costly condition as it accounts for many lost work days and disability claims

(Franks et al 1996, Carey et al 2000). Low back pain was identified by the Pan American

Health Organization is one of the top three occupational health problems to be targeted by

surveillance within the WHO Region of the Americas.Worldwide 37%, and in South East

In Asia including India and China 39%, of CLBP, is attributable to occupational ergonomic

stressors, both physical and psychosocial (Punnett et al 2005). Campbell et al (2004)

report that in the United States the estimated annual cost to society of back pain is

between 13 billion ($20 billion) and 33 billion ($50 billion