Effect of yoga, physical therapy, and education on coping and self-efficacy

Previous research has shown that feeling in control of chronic pain and using positive coping mechanisms can lead to reduced physical pain and less pain-related disability. The objective of the present study is to compare the effect of yoga, physical therapy, and health education on coping and pain self-efficacy. The Back to Health Study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of yoga, physical therapy, and health education for chronic low-back pain. Study participants (n=78) were recruited to the Back to Health Study from five community health centers in a racially diverse neighborhood of Boston, MA and were 18-64 years old; had non-specific chronic low back pain for >12 weeks with an average pain intensity for the previous week of >4 on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 12 weeks including the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Mean change scores in both the CSQ and the PSEQ will be generated for each treatment group and analyzed using ANOVA, and if indicated, using pairwise comparisons. An assessment of the effects of treatment group on coping strategies and self-efficacy will be presented. Sociodemographic results will also be presented. Results will determine the effect of the three treatment groups on coping and self-efficacy. Results will shed light on the potential for common conventional and complementary back pain therapies to enhance pain coping and self-efficacy, important mediators of pain perception and pain-related disability.