EFFECT OF YOGIC RELAXATION TECHNIQUE ON PATIENTS
UNDERGOING TRACTION AND CONVENTIONAL MANAGEMENT
IN CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

ANUPRITA ASHOK, Post Graduate Student
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the common pain disorders require effective treatment options. The objective was to determine the efficacy of yoga based relaxation technique, mind sound resonance technique (MSRT) to reduce pain in patients undergoing treatment for CLBP; 60 patients undergoing spinal traction therapy (STT) and interferential therapy (IFT) for CLBP at a private orthopedic hospital in Bangalore were randomly allotted into MSRT and control groups. The mean age was 40+10.99 years. Duration of CLBP was 6.8+3.16 & 5.40+2.66 for the control and yoga group respectively. The yoga group received the MSRT, by use of a recorded audio tape with head phone during the entire period of 20 min of STT & IFT. The control group had non guided supine rest. Assessments of spinal flexibility, pain, stress & autonomic variables were done on the 1st and on the 10th day. Medication dose, duration of STT & IFT was kept constant throughout. Analysis of outcomes in categories of pain, spinal flexibility indicated significant difference between the groups by Mann Whitney U test. Results were significant for forward Bending (p=0.001), back Bending (p=0.005), sit & reach (p<0.001) & pain analog scale (p=0.001). Improvement in the flexibility & pain reduction was observed in the yoga group compared to the control group at the end of 10th day. Autonomic variables, blood pressure (B.P) showed significant improvement in systolic (p<0.000) and diastolic (p=0.046) pressures, pulse rate (p<0.001) in yoga group before and after the intervention. Though Heart Rate Variability (HRV) did not show significant changes, B.P & PR indicated relaxation response in the yoga group compared to the control group. The present study shows that the MSRT of the yoga intervention helped in reducing pain by inducing relaxation & improvement of spinal flexibility in subjects with chronic low back pain

EFFICACY OF AN INTEGRATED YOGA MODULE IN
NORMAL HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS ON "QUALITY OF LIFE" (QOL)

SUDHEER DESHPANDE, Regd. Ph.D. Scholar
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of yoga on quality of life in normal healthy volunteers. 236 subjects between 18 to 65 years age range of both sexes who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and consented to participate in the study were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The Yoga (Y) group practiced an integrated yoga module that included asanas, pranayama, meditation, notional correction and devotional sessions. The control group practiced mild to moderate physical exercises (PE). Both groups had supervised practices for one hour daily, 6 days a week, for 8 weeks. QOL (Quality of Life) was assessed before and after 8 weeks using the self-administered WHO QOL - 100 having seven domains namely (1) Global (GH), (2) Physical (PHY), (3) Psychological (PSY), (4) Level of Independence (LOI), (5) Social relations (SRD), (6) Environmental (ENVD) and (7) Spiritual (SD) health domains. The baseline scores for all domains for both the groups did not differ significantly (p>0.05 independent samples t test). There were significant pre-post improvements in all domains in both groups (p<0.001 paired 'T' test). Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (RMANOVA) test showed no significant differences between the groups. This is first randomized controlled study with Y matched with PE intervention. This is multi-centered trial to study the efficacy of Y on the QOL by using WHO QOL-100 in normal healthy subjects which have demonstrated that Y is as effective as PE. Longer duration studies are needed to examine whether Yoga could score better than Physical exercises.

ROLE OF PERCEIVED STRESS ON MOTIVATION IN SUBJECTS
UNDERGOING A WEEK LONG YOGA CAMP

DHANRAJ G SHETTY, Post Graduate Student
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

Motivation appears to be a critical dimension in influencing patients to seek mind-body interventions. Motivation is also known to influence compliance to intervention and affect behaviour outcomes. This open uncontrolled cross sectional study was undertaken to evaluate whether perceived stress affects motivation for participation in a yoga camp. Subjects enrolled for a week long yoga camp were assessed at baseline for perceived stress and motivation. They were assessed by PSS (Perceived stress scale) and TMQ (Treatment Motivation Questionnaire - developed by SVYASA). Spearman correlation analysis test was used to determine bivariate relationship. Results showed significant (p < 0.001) correlation between perceived stress and internal reasons of motivation subscale (r=0.247) and total motivation score (r=0.151). Subjects with high perceived stress report more internal reasons for participating in a yoga camp.