title: Yoga for functional ability, pain and psychosocial outcomes in musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs) are the leading cause of disability and chronic pain in the developed world, impacting both functional ability and psychosocial health. The current review investigates the effectiveness of yoga on primary outcomes of functional ability, pain and psychosocial outcomes across a range of MSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search of 20 databases was conducted for full-text, randomized controlled trials of yoga in clinically diagnosed MSCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 1,626 participants with low back pain (LBP), osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), kyphosis or fibromyalgia. Studies were quality rated, and analysed for the effect of yoga on primary outcomes, immediately post-intervention. Twelve studies were rated as good quality. Yoga interventions resulted in a clinically significant improvement in functional outcomes in mild-to-moderate LBP and fibromyalgia, and showed a trend to improvement in kyphosis. Yoga significantly improved pain in OA, RA and mild-to-severe LBP. Psychosocial outcomes were significantly improved in mild-to-moderate LBP and OA. Meta-analysis of good-quality studies showed a moderate treatment effect for yoga of -0.64 (95%CI -0.89 to -0.39) for functional outcomes and -0.61 (95%CI -0.97 to -0.26) for pain outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence suggests that yoga is an acceptable and safe intervention, which may result in clinically relevant improvements in pain and functional outcomes associated with a range of MSCs. Future analysis of outcomes which take into account the amount of yoga received by participants may provide insight into any putative duration or dosage effects of yoga interventions for MSCs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physiotherapy Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stebbings
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cherkin
authors.forename: G David
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011584:Psychology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015013:Yoga
keywords: musculoskeletal conditions; systematic review; yoga