Progress of Research on the Mechanisms by Which Yoga Contributes to the Rehabilitation of Chronic Low Back Pain

Back pain is the most common human spinal disorder. It can be caused by lesions in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, ligaments, spine, ribs, spinal cord, and meninges. Low back pain typically manifests in the lower lumbar spine and lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions. It is usually dull and tingling, with local tenderness and/or radiation along the lower extremities. It is often accompanied by inadequate movement capability, pitching inconvenience, lack of weight-bearing ability, walking difficulty, and/or limb fatigue. More severe symptoms are forward lumbar bending, back extension, scoliosis, and spinal deformity. The 3-month prevalence rate of low back pain is estimated to be 25%, and the lifetime prevalence rate is estimated to be as high as 84% [1-3]. Low back pain poses a great societal and economic burden, as it is related to a decline in work efficiency, poor quality of life, and high medical costs [4]. Its treatment forms the largest category of medical claims (20–25%) [5], with direct medical costs exceeding $34 billion annually [6].