Bad back sufferers taking part in the yoga programme had far fewer days off work than those in the control group

By Claire Bates

PUBLISHED: 07:33 EST, 17 August 2012 | UPDATED: 07:33 EST, 17 August 2012

Most people will experience back pain during their lives, but for some it can become a chronic debilitating condition.

In 2011, just over 35million sick days were taken for musculoskeletal problems - the majority for back and neck problems.

Now a team from the University of York have found that specialist yoga classes could slash the number of days taken off work for the agonising condition.

Good practice: Alison Trewhela (right) partly designed the yoga classes that focus on strengthening the back

What is more, they say that if the cost could be kept below 300 per patient it would save the NHS money. Back pain is estimated to cost the NHS 1.37 billion and the health care sector 2.10 billion a year.

The team evaluated a 12-week group yoga intervention programme compared to conventional GP care alone.

The results, published in the journal Spine, revealed that those taking part in the yoga programme had far fewer days off work than those in the control group.

Continue reading here:
Prescribing yoga on the NHS could slash annual £1.37billion back pain bill, say experts