Can Yoga Reduce Chronic Pain in Veterans with PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans is an ongoing health concern that continues to be explored and researched. Many people are looking for ways to help reduce what those with the condition are going through, which often includes chronic pain. A new study puts the use of yoga in the spotlight as a way to help veterans who have chronic pain and PTSD.
The study, published in the December 2023 issue of the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health (1), shared the findings from a study conducted that involved 27 veterans who had chronic pain and PTSD. The participants were assigned to either a 12-week plan that included yoga or one that focused on a relaxation intervention. Those who did the yoga also had a mantram, or mantra, which is a short, powerful phrase that is silently repeated.
The retention rate for the study at 12 weeks was 85%, and at 18 weeks was 81%. At the end of the study, 100% of the participants who did the yoga with mantram were satisfied with their participation. In comparison, 75% of the participants who did the relaxation intervention were satisfied at 12 weeks and 88% at 18 weeks.
At the end of the intervention period, which was the 12-week mark, those who participated in the yoga and mantra reported having less back pain. They also said that they had reduced their alcohol intake, reduced fatigue, and that their quality of life had improved. Meanwhile, those who participated in the relaxation intervention reported that they had less pain severity, fatigue, and fewer PTSD symptoms.
The study was done during the pandemic, which made it a little more challenging for all participants to attend in-person interventions. Even so, those who participated in both types of intervention gained benefits that helped reduce chronic pain. Veterans who have PTSD and experience chronic pain may want to consider engaging in a program that includes yoga and a mantram or a relaxation intervention, as both may lead to helpful benefits. Both of these things can be done at home or in a group with others, making it convenient and affordable.
The study also reports that veterans with PTSD are more likely to experience chronic pain than veterans who do not have PTSD. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, out of the veterans using the VA, 23 out of every 100 have PTSD at some point in their lives(2).
Source:
- Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. Yoga Plus Mantram Repetition to Reduce Chronic Pain in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. December 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38152342/
- U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp#:~:text=One%20study%20found%20that%20among,in%20Veterans%20using%20VA%20care.
