Try Yoga Instead of Opioids for Lower Back Pain

For people experiencing low back pain, the thought of exercise often seems daunting. About 80 percent of Americans will have back pain at some point in their lives, but treatment can be a challenge, and taking prescription painkillers can lead to opioid addiction. But a new review indicates yoga may be a natural fit in the quest to relieve an aching back. Researchers from the University of Maryland reviewed 12 studies. Indeed, there was some evidence that yoga led to small improvements in pain, and small to moderate improvements in back function at three and six months.