Abstract
We searched databases for controlled clinical studies, and performed a meta-analysis
on the effectiveness of yoga interventions on pain and associated disability. Five
randomized studies reported single-blinding and had a higher methodological quality;
7 studies were randomized but not blinded and had moderate quality; and 4 nonrandomized
studies had low quality. In 6 studies, yoga was used to treat patients with back pain;
in 2 studies to treat rheumatoid arthritis; in 2 studies to treat patients with headache/migraine;
and 6 studies enrolled individuals for other indications. All studies reported positive
effects in favor of the yoga interventions. With respect to pain, a random effect
meta-analysis estimated the overall treatment effect at SMD = −.74 (CI: −.97; −.52,
P < .0001), and an overall treatment effect at SMD = −.79 (CI: −1.02; −.56, P < .0001) for pain-related disability. Despite some limitations, there is evidence
that yoga may be useful for several pain-associated disorders. Moreover, there are
hints that even short-term interventions might be effective. Nevertheless, large-scale
further studies have to identify which patients may benefit from the respective interventions.
Perspective
This meta-analysis suggests that yoga is a useful supplementary approach with moderate
effect sizes on pain and associated disability.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 19, 2011
Footnotes
The authors did not receive external grants or funds to perform this analysis. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
