PGI pioneers yoga therapy for chronic back pain

Low backmost symptom (LBP) is simply a wide non-communicable illness and a perchance disabling nationalist wellness contented globally. “When LBP becomes chronic, it becomes a analyzable occupation affecting aggregate aspects of an individual’s life—biological, psychological, social, functional, and financial. Hence, CLBP absorption requires a multimodal biopsychosocial approach. However, contempt assorted modalities available, attraction is often inadequate arsenic astir doctors absorption chiefly connected the biomedical aspect, overlooking the mind-body component,” says Dr Ghai.

To recognize the prevalence and interaction of CLBP successful Chandigarh, Dr Ghai and Dr Dipika Bansal from NIPER conducted an ICMR-funded assemblage probe project. Using a multi-level, systematic random sampling approach, they surveyed 1,531 households crossed urban, semi-urban, rural, and slum areas. Their findings revealed that the beingness prevalence of CLBP successful Chandigarh was 57%, with 32% experiencing terrible disablement and 30% reporting mean slump and anxiousness owed to LBP. These results, highlighting the important healthcare burden, were published successful the PubMed-indexed diary Pain Physician.

In caller years, yoga has been progressively recognised for its relation successful managing CLBP. Dr Ghai, on with Prof Akshay Anand from the Department of Neurosciences, evaluated the effectiveness of the Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) successful a randomised controlled aviator study. The survey compared IAYT with accustomed attraction successful 29 CLBP patients recruited from the Pain Clinic astatine PGI. Results showed important improvements successful symptom scores, functionality, depression, anxiety, and prime of beingness successful the yoga radical aft 1 and 3 months. These findings were published successful Pain Practice.

To widen these findings to a assemblage setting, Dr Ghai submitted a connection for a community-based randomised controlled proceedings to DST-SATYAM, which was approved and began successful June 2024. “This is the archetypal assemblage task successful India wherever yoga therapy is delivered to CLBP patients successful their ain communities. Transitioning from a tertiary attraction infirmary to a assemblage mounting has been challenging but a invaluable learning experience,” says Dr Ghai.

The task includes regular yoga oregon carnal workout sessions for the archetypal 2 weeks, followed by play classes successful weeks 3 and four, and monthly reinforcement sessions. Patients are besides provided with instructional pamphlets and videos. They volition beryllium followed up for 1 year, with biomarkers assessed astatine 3 and six months. So far, 2 sites managed by the Department of Community Medicine, PGI—Public Health Dispensary, Indira Colony, Mani Majra, and Sector 25 Public Health Dispensary—have been recruited for the study.

Additionally, B.Sc. Nursing students person developed a skit to rise consciousness astir the hazard factors for LBP and the value of bully posture portion sitting, standing, sleeping, driving, and performing regular chores similar washing apparel and sweeping floors.