The Benefits of Yoga Therapy for the Treatment of People Suffering from Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain (LBP) is experienced in 60%-80% of adults at some point in their

lifetime. Andersson (1999)1 estimated the annual worldwide LBP incidences in

adults to be 15% and the point prevalence to be 30%. Papageorgiou et al. (1995)2

stated that anLBP episode must have occurred in at least 50 percent of adults. Some

tests have shown LBP to be one of the more frequent reasons for physician

visits(Hart et al., 1995)3.

LBP is seen as one of the main immobilizing health challenges among older people

ranging from the age group of 60 and above, resulting in painful conditions and

disability (Bain et al., 2015)4. LBP has no definite history but it originates from

different pain sources (Middleton & Fish, 2009)5.Heneweer et al., (2012)6were of

the view that work exposure to the human body such as lifting, twisting, bending, and

stooping leads to body vibrations and are potential risk factors for LBP in older adults

in the working age. According to Cypress (1983)7, people aged 60 years and above

are topping the list of people suffering from LBP. Leopoldino et al. (2016)8 reported

that LBP prevalence in community-dwelling older adults in oneyear ranges from 13 to

50% globally. Hides et al., (2001)9 reported that LBP is predicted to occur any time

in their lives across 70% of the human population, and recurrence rates will reach

85%. TarzianandHoffmann (2005)10 also report that 80% of older adults experience

musculoskeletal pain with the majority attributed to LBP.