Yoga, tai-chi, acupuncture for chronic pain
Yoga, tai-chi and acupuncture may help relieve chronic pain conditions even as pain relieving drugs fail to provide relief, says a study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
The study found that these interventions could improve pain in these 5 conditions – back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraine.
‘For many people who suffer from chronic pain, medications may not completely relieve pain and can produce unwanted side effects. As a result, many people may turn to non-drug approaches to help manage their pain,’ said lead author Richard L. Nahin, Epidemiologist at National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) — a US-based government research organization.
Based on the study, the following medical conditions found relief by the therapy specific to each as mentioned alongside.
The study also found that these interventions had no significant side effects.
The team reviewed 105 US-based randomised controlled trials, from the past 50 years, that were relevant to patients with chronic pain conditions. The review also gives primary care providers – who frequently see patients with chronic pain – tools to inform decision-making on how to help manage that pain.
‘These data can equip providers and patients with the information they need to have informed conversations regarding non-drug approaches for treatment of specific pain conditions,’ added David Shurtleff, Deputy Director of NCCIH
