• Rae L
• Dougherty P
• Evertz N

• Affiliation / New York Chiropractic College. Department of Clinical Education
• Affiliation / VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System
• Affiliation(G) / United States / New York / Canandaigua
• Affiliation(G) / United States / New York / Seneca Falls
• Chronic Pain
• Low Back Pain
• Mindfulness
• Muscle Stretching Exercises
• Open Access Document
• Pain Management
• Random Allocation
• Veterans
• Yoga

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of recruiting, randomizing, enrolling, and collecting outcome data on veteran patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who undergo an 8-week, active exercise class with mindfulness (yoga class) and without (stretching class).

Methods: United States veterans with CLBP based on inclusion/exclusion criteria were randomized to 1 of 2 groups. The study design was a pilot randomized controlled trial. Twenty CLBP patients attended a yoga class or stretching class once per week for 8 weeks at the Veterans Affairs Rochester Outpatient Center, Rochester, New York. The following measurements were obtained: recruitment or enrollment data, compliance data to include class attendance and home exercise, and compliance data regarding ability to collect outcome measures at baseline and at completion. Outcome measures included pain (PEG), quality of life (PROMIS Global Health Survey), self-efficacy (2-item questionnaire), fear avoidance belief, catastrophizing, and social engagement in addition to qualitative clinician open-ended questions postintervention.

Results: Forty-five veterans were queried regarding interest in participation. Of these, 34 (76%) met the study's criteria. Twenty (44%) agreed to participate and were consented, randomized, and enrolled in the study. Initial and final outcome measures were obtained for each participant (100%). Forty percent attended more than 80% of the sessions for both yoga and stretching groups.

Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated feasibility of recruiting, enrolling, and collecting outcome data on CLBP veteran patients participating in yoga and stretching class. The data from this pilot will inform the development of a randomized, comparative effectiveness study of yoga with and without mindfulness in the management of CLBP.

Author keywords: Low Back Pain; Chronic Pain; Yoga; Veterans; Mindfulness; Exercise; Pain Management

Author affiliations: LR, PD: Department of Clinical Education, New York Chiropractic College [Seneca Falls, New York], VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, New York, United States; NE: Geriatrics and Extended Care and Rehabilitation (GEC-R), VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, New York, United States

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; click on the above link for free full text. PubMed Record | PDF