Yoga for Low-Back Pain?

Mind-Body-Spirit News:

Yoga, as well as other exercise that promotes balance, strength and flexibility, may be effective for people with low-back pain, according to an article published in the Journal of Family Practice (2004; 53 [8], 661–2). The authors reviewed more than 120 studies on the use of yoga for various medical conditions. No studies, however, directly evaluated the effect of yoga on back pain.

In a survey of 3,000 people practicing yoga for health ailments, 98% said that yoga benefited them. Thirty-eight percent of survey respondents suffered from back pain. The researchers pointed out the need for more studies but noted that there were no reports of harm from yoga therapy used for low-back pain.