Yoga and disc degenerative disease in cervical and lumbar spine: an MR imaging-based case control study

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to find out whether yoga practice was beneficial to the spine by comparing degenerative disc disease in the spines of long-time yoga practitioners and non-yoga practicing controls, using an objective measurement tool, magnetic resonance imaging. This matched case-control study comprised 18 yoga instructors with teaching experience of more than 10 years and 18 non-yoga practicing asymptomatic individuals randomly selected from a health checkup database. A validated grading scale was used to grade the condition of cervical and lumbar discs seen in magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, and the resulting data analyzed statistically. The mean number of years of yoga practice for the yoga group was 12.9 ± 7.5. The overall (cervical + lumbar) disc scores of the yoga group were significantly lower (indicating less degenerative disc disease) than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The scores for the cervical vertebral discs of the yoga group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.001), while the lower scores for the yoga group in the lumbar group approached, but did not reach, statistical significance (P = 0.055). The scores for individual discs of yoga practitioners showed significantly less degenerative disease at three disc levels, C3/C4, L2/L3 and L3/L4 (P < 0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the group of long-term practitioners of yoga studied had significantly less degenerative disc disease than a matched control group.

Quality of Life and Mental Health in Patients with Chronic Diseases Who Regularly Practice Yoga and Those Who Do Not: A Case-Control Study

“…In a small case-control study, Chaya et al [30] found increased insulin sensitivity in yoga practitioners compared to nonusers. Two Chinese studies compared magnetic resonance images in healthy yoga practitioners and non-practitioners and found increased risk of meniscus injuries [31] but decreased risk of degenerative disc disease in yoga practitioners [32]. A recent case-control study investigated brain-grounded maps of the body using a motor imagery task and found no differences between yoga practitioners and matched controls [33].…”

Musculoskeletal Injuries Related to Yoga: Imaging Observations

“…Studies generally resulted in amelioration of pain and improved mobility. One MRI study even showed that a group of long-term practitioners of yoga studied had significantly less degenerative disk disease than a matched control group [34].…”

Non-Surgical and Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease in the Course of Peripheral Neuropathy

“…Relaxation, which is a part of yoga, may also help to reduce the perceived pain. Yoga may help retain motor functions, reduce the intensity of pain, and treat depression, which is very important in treating chronic diseases (Jeng et al 2011).…”