Yoga agains back pain in nurses
Yogic Excercises According to the System Yoga in Daily
Life Against Back Pain of Nurses.
Roman Bednár, M.D.
Trnava University in Trnava, Slovakia
Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Department of physiotherapy
Faculty Hospital Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
Abstract:
Aim: Worldwide nurses demonstrate back pain; an annual prevalence is 40–50% and a lifetime prevalence is 35–80%. In FNsP F.D.Roosevelt Hospital in Banská Bystrica the incidence of back pain in nurses reaches 63 percent. The aim of this study is to design an effective exercise program for nurses to protect them against back pain.
Subjects: A sample of nurses (n=60) from 17 inpatient units of FNsP F.D.Roosevelt Hospital in Banská Bystrica who have been working for more than 5 years was selected.
Methods: Before nurses could be included in the study their spine flexibility, breathing stereotype, muscle weakness, muscle shortening and balance were measured. Both the control (n=30) and the exercise group (n=30) received instructions on back school and lifting techniques. In addition to that, the exercise group practiced relaxation, full yogic breath and Khatu pranam exercise three times a week in 20 minute sessions.
Results: After 3 months the exercise group reached a significant pain relief (36,67%, p=0,03). In the control group we observed pain relief in 13,43% (p=0,301). However, the results in the control group were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Our study confirmed that “Yoga in Daily Life” exercises are effective against work-related back pain in nurses when performed three times a week in 20 minute sessions (p=0,03). Moreover, this therapy has led to an improvement of spine functions. Obviously, effectiveness of back school and patient lifting training themselves is low.
Key words: Back pain in nurses. Yoga in Daily Life. Compensation exercises. Yogic Excercises According to the System Yoga in Daily Life Against Back Pain of Nurses.
Roman Bednár, M.D.
Trnava University in Trnava, Slovakia
Faculty of Health Care and Social Work, Department of physiotherapy
Faculty Hospital Banska Bystrica, Slovakia