title: Disc extrusions and bulges in nonspecific low back pain and sciatica: Exploratory randomised controlled trial comparing yoga therapy and normal medical treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous trials of yoga therapy for nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP) (without sciatica) showed beneficial effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test effects of yoga therapy on pain and disability associated with lumbar disc extrusions and bulges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial. Sixty-one adults from rural population, aged 20-45, with nsLBP or sciatica, and disc extrusions or bulges. Randomised to yoga (n=30) and control (n=31). Yoga: 3-month yoga course of group classes and home practice, designed to ensure safety for disc extrusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  normal medical care. OUTCOME MEASURES (3-4 months) Primary: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ); worst pain in past two weeks. Secondary: Aberdeen Low Back Pain Scale; straight leg raise test; structural changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disc projections per case ranged from one bulge or one extrusion to three bulges plus two extrusions. Sixty-two percent had sciatica. Intention-to-treat analysis of the RMDQ data, adjusted for age, sex and baseline RMDQ scores, gave a Yoga Group score 3.29 points lower than Control Group (0.98, 5.61; p=0.006) at 3 months. No other significant differences in the endpoints occurred. No adverse effects of yoga were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yoga therapy can be safe and beneficial for patients with nsLBP or sciatica, accompanied by disc extrusions and bulges.
authors.affiliation: Yoga Biomedical Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monro
authors.affiliation: Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Ram Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telles
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Intervertebral disc displacement; back pain; complementary therapies; disc; herniation; sciatica; yoga