Treatment of Chronic Lower Back Pain: Study Protocol of a Comparative Effectiveness Study on Yoga, Eurythmy Therapy, and Physiotherapeutic Exercises

Abstract

Background: We aim to compare the effectiveness of 3 active interventions, i.e., yoga, eurythmy therapy, and physiotherapeutic exercise, on chronic lower back pain.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial over 16 weeks (8 weeks of intervention, 8 weeks of follow-up), data of individuals with chronic lower back pain will be analyzed. Interventions are implemented as group sessions (75 min) once per week. Participants receive a manual for home-based practice and are assessed before and at the end of the 8-week intervention period, and at the end of an 8-week follow-up period. Standardized questionnaires are: the Roland-Morris Disability Score, visual analog scales measuring intensity of pain, the Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Inner Correspondence with the Practices questionnaire, the Freiburg Mindfulness Questionnaire, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, a self-regulation questionnaire, the Internal Coherence Scale, a pain diary (registering the need of analgesic medication), and a questionnaire on the patients' expectation that the interventions will be effective in reducing pain and how strong this reduction might be (2 single items), etc.

Discussion: This large multicenter study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of 3 contrasting movement-orientated treatments that share some similarities but differ in essential details: yoga, eurythmy therapy, and physiotherapeutic exercises. It will provide important data on non-pharmacological options to treat lower back pain in a large group of affected individuals.

Keywords: Back pain; Eurythmy therapy; Exercise; Non-pharmacological intervention; Physiotherapy; Study protocol; Yoga.