Yoga has been increasing in popularity over the recent years. About 36 million Americans practice yoga currently, and between 2012 and 2016 there has been a 50% increase in Americans practicing yoga. More uniquely, the number of people aged 50 and older who participate in a yoga practice has tripled over the past four years. There are many positives to participating in yoga such as; increase flexibility, muscle strength and tone, respiration, cardio and circulatory health. A large part of yoga is the mental health aspect to it as well, Some mental health benefits include; stress relief, a sense of mindfulness, increased coping skills, a more positive life outlook,  and increased mental awareness. Part of this spike in yoga practice is due to belief of low back pain relief, which is a very common condition Americans face. Low back pain has a 58-70% lifetime prevalence in the United States, making it very common. ­25% of those with low back pain are limited in their activity, 2% are temporarily or chronically disabled, and most self-manage and few become disabled. Some common causes to low back pain include; sprains and strains, intervertebral disc degeneration, herniated or ruptured discs in the low back region of the spine, or a traumatic injury. Risk factors associated with low back pain are age greater than 30, poor fitness and wellness or weak back and abdominal muscles, being overweight, genetics, pregnancy, and possible occupational risk factors. Jobs that that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when it involves twisting or vibrating the spine, can lead to injury and back pain. An inactive job or a desk job may also lead to or contribute to pain, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in a chair with inadequate back support. Low back pain is the most common cause of job related disability, and contributor to missed days of work. Men and women are also affected equally with this pain. There are two types of low back pain, chronic and acute. Chronic low back pain is defined as being pain that persists longer than 12 weeks, while acute is pain persisting less than 12 weeks. Non specific low back pain (NSLBP) is in reference to both types of the pain. The goal is to see if the popular practice of yoga and similar modalities decrease nonspecific low back pain. The traditional yoga practice will be the focus of possible treatment of nonspecific low back pain. This traditional practice includes; meditation, deep stretching, and strength and flexibility building. Some common stretches to try for nonspecific low back pain relief would be childs pose, catcow, downward facing dog, standing forward bend, knees to chest with slow rock, or reclined supine twist. Lastly, can the popularity of yoga practice and the claim of it relieving low back pain be proven by scientific research?
Alternatively to yoga, Americans often rely on the use of prescription drugs such as Motrin, or Aleve pain relievers to treat their back pain. Those who are regular “yogies” attempting to treat their low back pain, may also be using these types of medications, so is the yoga truly the cause for the relief of pain in the back?