A new study published in the prestigious medical journal JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) concludes: yoga may be as effective as painkillers for chronic back pain. And best of all, without the troubling side effects that often come with the use of painkillers!
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Although reviews of the efficacy of opioids for back pain are scant, they continue to be the most commonly prescribed treatment for chronic pain in the U.S. and Canada - 2-3 times greater than most European countries.
Complications of opioid use, which include addiction and overdose-related mortality, physical dependence, sedation, depression and nausea, have risen comparably with prescription rates during the past decade. In spite of numerous strategies for reducing opioid misuse, at least 40 people in the U.S. die each day from an opioid overdose. As we all know, opioid overuse is a becoming a significant problem in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently cautioned against the use of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain, and urged the use of non-opioid treatment and alternative therapies.
If you or someone you love is seeking an alternative to opioid medication - please consider yoga!
Based on an article by B Grace Bullock, PhD, E-RYT 500, yogauonline.com