Comparative Effectiveness of Yoga Therapy, McKenzie Exercises, and Core Stability Training on Disability and Job Satisfaction in Individuals with Mechanical Low Back Pain

Background: Low back pain (LBP) affects nearly 80% of adults worldwide and is a major cause of disability, reduced job satisfaction, and economic burden. Mechanical low back pain, often associated with degenerative changes or disc prolapse, requires effective therapeutic strategies. Conventional physiotherapy and McKenzie exercises are widely used, while yoga therapy has recently emerged as a promising complementary approach focusing on both physical and psychological outcomes.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of yoga therapy practices, McKenzie exercises, and core stability exercises on disability and job satisfaction levels in subjects with mechanical low back pain.
Methods: Ninety male participants with chronic mechanical low back pain were randomized into three groups: Group A (yoga therapy), Group B (McKenzie and core stability exercises), and Group C (control). The intervention lasted several weeks with structured sessions. Disability was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), while job satisfaction was measured using the Job Satisfaction Scale (Bubey, Uppal & Verma, 1989). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Scheffé’s post hoc tests.
Results: At baseline, no significant differences were observed among groups (F = 1.47, p > 0.05). Post-intervention, significant differences emerged in both disability (F = 196.69, p < 0.05) and job satisfaction (F = 9.44, p < 0.05). Adjusted post-test means indicated that yoga therapy (Group A: 41.02) showed greater improvement in reducing disability compared to McKenzie/core stability exercises (Group B: 46.23) and control (Group C: 76.22). Similarly, job satisfaction improved significantly in the yoga group (43.83) and McKenzie group (52.39) compared to the control group (68.05), with yoga therapy demonstrating superior effectiveness.
Conclusion: Both yoga therapy and McKenzie exercises are effective in improving disability and job satisfaction among individuals with mechanical low back pain. However, yoga therapy produced greater overall benefits, suggesting its potential as a safe, holistic, and cost-effective intervention. Further large-scale studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to explore associated physiological and psychosocial mechanisms.

Yoga therapy, McKenzie exercises, core stability, low back pain, disability, job satisfaction

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