Comparing Once- versus Twice-Weekly Yoga Classes for Chronic Low Back Pain in Predominantly Low Income Minorities: A Randomized Dosing Trial
Table 1
Twelve-week standardized hatha yoga protocol for the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Yoga Posture
Protocol segments
Total weeks Incorporating posture
Segment 1 Weeks 1–3
Segment 2 Weeks 4–6
Segment 3 Weeks 7–9
Segment 4 Weeks 10–12
Opening to Something Greater
Listening to the Wisdom of the Body
Engaging Your Power
Bringing it Home
Savasana relaxation and breathing exercises
✓
✓
✓
✓
Warm-up postures
Knee to chest
✓
✓
✓
✓
Knee together twist
✓
✓
✓
✓
Pelvic tilt
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cat and cow (and modifications)
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chair (and modified)
✓
✓
✓
✓
Shoulder opener
✓
✓
✓
Half moon
✓
✓
✓
✓
Mountain (and modifications)
✓
✓
✓
Yoga postures
Child's pose
✓
✓
✓
Cobra (and modified)
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bridge
✓
✓
✓
Reclining cobbler
✓
✓
✓
Downward facing dog (and at wall)
✓
✓
Triangle pose at wall
✓
Locust pose
✓
Sphinx
✓
✓
✓
Warrior
✓
✓
Lunge with wall assist
✓
✓
Extended leg
✓
✓
Standing squat with half forward bend
✓
Baby dancer
✓
Spinal rolls
✓
Savasana ending relaxation
✓
✓
✓
✓
The same 12-week hatha yoga protocol for chronic low back pain was used in both groups. The only difference was in the number of 75-minute classes per week offered to participants (once-weekly versus twice-weekly). The protocol provided variations of poses to accommodate different abilities. Exercises included on the audio CD provided to participants for home practice.
