Yoga Effects on Quality of Life, Endurance, and Flexibility in Adolescents with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is increasingly reported among adolescents and may impair physical function, spinal flexibility, muscular endurance, and quality of life. Exercise-based interventions are widely used in conservative management, and yoga has emerged as a promising approach due to its integration of stretching, strengthening, breathing, and relaxation techniques.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga exercise on quality of life, muscle endurance, and spinal flexibility in adolescents with LBP.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Articles were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Experimental studies involving adolescents with LBP undergoing yoga interventions were included. The selection process followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was performed.

Results: Five experimental studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs. Yoga interventions lasting four to eight weeks were consistently associated with improvements in spinal flexibility, trunk muscle endurance, and health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: Yoga may improve flexibility, muscle endurance, and quality of life in adolescents with LBP. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to strengthen the evidence.