Pain reduction, physical performance, and psychological status compared between Hatha yoga and stretching exercise to treat sedentary office workers with mild/moderate neck/shoulder pain: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Abstract

Objective

To investigate pain reduction, physical performance, and psychological status compared between Hatha yoga and stretching exercises.

Design

Randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

Subjects

150 sedentary office workers with mild/moderate neck/shoulder pain.

Interventions

Participants received group Hatha yoga or stretching exercise once a week (30 min for 4 weeks), and were asked to practice at home. Subjects were followed up at 4 and 8 weeks.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was a numeric rating scale (NRS) score. The secondary outcomes were a sit-and-reach test, Functional Reach Test, Neck Disability Index, pain pressure threshold, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and the EuroQoL.

Results

Of the 150 subjects, 59 and 71 participants in the Hatha yoga and stretching groups were analyzed. At baseline, no significant differences between groups were found. After 4 weeks, the mean difference in the NRS score was statistically significant between groups (p < 0.001), including a 95% confidence level of < 1 score, but there was no significant difference between groups for any other outcome. Most participants reported being satisfied with their assigned treatment (98.3–100%), and rated themselves as improved or much improved (91.8–98.3%) (both p > 0.05 between groups). The most common adverse events were musculoskeletal pain and muscle tension. Repeated measures analysis of variance that compared among weeks 0, 4, and 8 revealed no significant difference between groups.

Conclusion

Hatha yoga was tentatively found to be non-inferior to stretching exercise relative to safety, for decreasing pain, anxiety, and depression, and for improving flexibility, neck functions, and quality of life.