Therapeutic Yoga for the Management of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Current Evidence and Mechanisms.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of yoga as a complementary therapy for reducing pain, disability, and mood symptoms in adults with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP).
Results Summary
The review found that supervised yoga programs may reduce pain intensity, disability, and mood symptoms in CNNP patients, with some evidence of improved cervical range of motion and quality of life. However, evidence of yoga's superiority to other exercise-based practices was inconsistent, and adverse effects were rare and minor.
Population
Adults with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
supervised yoga program | decrease | pain intensity | adults with CNNP | - | may decrease | #1 |
supervised yoga program | decrease | disability | adults with CNNP | - | may decrease | #2 |
supervised yoga program | decrease | mood symptoms | adults with CNNP | - | may decrease | #3 |
yoga intervention | increase | cervical range of motion | - | - | may also improve | #4 |
yoga intervention | increase | quality of life (both physical and mental) | - | - | may also improve | #5 |
yoga | no change | superiority to other exercise-based practices such as pilates | - | conflicting | Evidence of superiority to other exercise-based practices such as pilates was conflicting | #6 |
yoga | no change | adverse effects | - | relatively uncommon, minor, and often transient | Adverse effects ... were relatively uncommon, minor, and often transient | #7 |
Chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP), which is neck pain in the absence of attributable structural and neurological findings, is often challenging for medical and rehabilitation professionals to treat. Conventional treatments such as medications and physical therapy often fail to provide lasting relief, which leads patients to pursue complementary therapies such as yoga. This review discusses the evidence from nine studies, including four randomized controlled trials, which suggests that a supervised yoga program may decrease pain intensity, disability, and mood symptoms in adults with CNNP. Cervical range of motion and quality of life (both physical and mental) may also improve with yoga intervention, although this is less consistent across studies. Evidence of yoga's superiority to other exercise-based practices such as pilates was conflicting. Adverse effects of yoga, such as exacerbation of neck pain, were relatively uncommon, minor, and often transient. This article also comprehensively reviews the pathophysiology of CNNP, therapeutic mechanisms of yoga, and limitations in the evidence (including risk-of-bias assessment). Future studies should attempt to: (1) compare the effectiveness of different lineages of yoga for individuals with CNNP, (2) determine the optimal length and duration of these yoga interventions, (3) better characterize the physical and psychological mechanisms of yoga, (4) compare yoga to other exercise- and mindfulness-based practices, (5) evaluate the effect of yoga on sleep in the CNNP population, and (6) explore the applicability/efficacy of virtual yoga instruction.