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@article{194058,
        author = {Rajesh Kumar R and Dr.S.Natarajan and Dr.C.V.Jayanthy},
        title = {A Comparative Study of Yoga Therapy and McKenzie Method Exercises on Stress Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes in Mechanical Low Back Pain},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {2403-2411},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=194058},
        abstract = {Background: Mechanical low back pain (MLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Chronic low back pain is frequently associated with physiological stress responses and systemic inflammation, which may influence pain perception and recovery. Exercise-based rehabilitation approaches such as yoga therapy and the McKenzie method are widely used in the management of mechanical low back pain. However, limited research has examined their comparative effects on stress-related biomarkers such as salivary cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP) alongside clinical outcomes.
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effects of yoga therapy and McKenzie method exercises on stress biomarkers (salivary cortisol and CRP) and clinical outcomes in individuals with mechanical low back pain.
Methods: A comparative randomized experimental study was conducted involving 60 participants with mechanical low back pain aged 30–40 years. Participants were randomly allocated into three groups: Yoga Therapy Group (n=20), McKenzie Method Group (n=20), and Control Group (n=20). The intervention period lasted nine weeks. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability. Stress biomarkers were measured using salivary cortisol and serum CRP levels. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni tests with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: Both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain intensity and functional disability compared with the control group. The yoga therapy group showed greater reductions in VAS and ODI scores. Additionally, salivary cortisol and CRP levels decreased significantly in the yoga therapy group compared with the McKenzie and control groups.
Conclusion: Yoga therapy and McKenzie method exercises are effective interventions for improving clinical outcomes in mechanical low back pain. However, yoga therapy demonstrated superior effects in reducing physiological stress and inflammatory biomarkers, suggesting that mind–body rehabilitation approaches may provide additional benefits in managing chronic low back pain.},
        keywords = {Mechanical low back pain, yoga therapy, McKenzie method, stress biomarkers, cortisol, C-reactive protein.},
        month = {March},
        }