The Effect of Yoga on Body Awareness and Kinesiophobia in Women With Chronic Low Back Pain

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most common problem in the musculoskeletal system and causes disability. The prevalence of chronic low back pain is 80% in women. Although there are many causes of low back pain, it is often not possible to find the exact cause of the pain. The consequences of chronic low back pain include musculoskeletal problems, decreased sleep quality, decreased quality of life and limitation in activities of daily living, depression, anxiety, and decreased body awareness and kinesiophobia. Kinesiophobia is defined as the fear of re-injury gained after injury, which reduces physical movement and activity. Patients with kinesiophobia develop the idea that movement will cause re-injury and add to pain. This situation leads to avoidance of physical activity and functional disability in the long term. Body awareness, on the other hand, is the awareness of the messages that the brain receives from other parts of the body and from the outside. These messages that the person receives include not only his own body and movements, but also information such as the characteristics and locations of other objects in the environment. This information is blended over time and turns into experiences of the body. Today, a rehabilitation method consisting of exercise programs, in which the active participation of the individual is ensured, is recommended, especially in the treatment approach to chronic low back pain. Within the scope of physiotherapy programs; heat applications and other physical therapy agents, exercise applications are recommended. Yoga is an alternative exercise practiced in CLBP as a body-mind exercise. Yoga is an easy-to-apply, non-invasive, cost-effective, scientifically proven practice.