Yoga, talk therapy and mindfulness ease bad backs — and cost health systems less

Lower back pain disables more people than any other condition in the world, and the standard answers are often pills, injections or surgery. A review of 20 studies covering 14,884 people, published in PLOS Medicine, found that gentler options — yoga, cognitive behavioural therapy, self-management support, lessons that calm fears about movement, and mindfulness — helped people get better while costing health services less than usual care. The Sydney-led researchers say making these drug-free treatments easier to get could ease a lot of backs and a lot of budgets at the same time.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being