Cost-effectiveness of early interventions for non-specific low back pain: A randomized controlled study investigating medical yoga, exercise therapy and self-care advice

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153 patients with non-specific low back pain were randomized to participate in medical yoga, exercise therapy, or self-care advice treatment. This was done to assess the cost-effectiveness of various treatment methods for low back pain. Health-related quality of life as well as quality-adjusted life year value were assessed over a period of 12 months. Results indicated that, for patients complying to the treatment regimen, health-related quality of life was similar between the medical yoga group and the exercise therapy group, and was significantly higher in the medical yoga group than the self-care advice group. Differences between groups were non-significant in noncompliant patients. Mean societal burden, including direct and indirect costs, was lowest in the medical yoga group.