David Cameron not onlypledges severe cuts to theNHS, but also threatens to

cut benefits to people on long-termsickness and disability allowance to the tune of another £4bn.

Given threats to job security andincreased demands to raise perform-ance, will employees feel underpressure to attend work when theyare unwell? What does this mean for employees’ health and wellbeingat work, and where does employerresponsibility stop and governmentlegislation begin?

Since it is estimated that up to four out of five people (80%) willexperience back pain at some pointin their lives, it is likely that back painsufferers are going to be anxious aboutrecent developments. Anyone who hasbeen a victim of back pain wouldprobably agree when suffering anattack that the pain is all consuming,relentless and debilitating.

Current government policy lacksempathy for the long-term sick and isinclined to treat them as malingerers,yet over five million adults consulttheir GPs annually about back pain;we are talking about a largepercentage of our workforce.

“We’re going to change the whole way welfare is done in this country so everyone takes responsibility and plays their part. This is our newwelfare contract: Do the right thingand we will back you all the way. Butfail to take responsibility – and thefree ride is over,” David Cameron 20th April 2010.

Cuts to the public sectorLooming cuts to the public sectoralso mean that those who have either exceeded or are nearing their

sickness quota are more likely to losetheir jobs than those who have notbeen absent. Is it little wonder thenthat the recent review of the Healthand Wellbeing of NHS Employees, ledby Dr Steve Boorman and supportedby the Work Foundation along withothers, shows ‘sickness presence’ asa concern for the public sector, ie.employees coming to work when they should be at home resting.

Alternative back paintreatmentsThe report ‘The Economic Burden ofBack Pain in the UK’ confirms thatback pain is one of the most costlyconditions in the UK, and this is inline with findings in other countries.1

It also stated: ‘Further research isneeded to establish the cost-effec-tiveness of alternative back paintreatments, so as to minimise costand maximise the health benefit fromthe resources used in this area.’

The BMA recently carried out a twoyear study of acupuncture and othercomplementary and alternative medicines, and agreed they shouldbe integrated into the NHS.

A recent report from the NHS statedthat while it may seem that sendingpatients for an X-ray or MRI scan can provide some reassurance, thescans often reveal very little2 andProfessor Peter Littlejohns of NICE,National Institute for ClinicalExcellence, said: “Patients whosepain is not improving should have access to a choice of different therapies includingacupuncture, structured exercise and manual therapy.”

Low cost to NHSHowever, it’s not all doom and gloomas radical changes are set for thefuture, NICE is welcoming the newgovernment health strategies toimplement more acupuncture andosteopathy into the practice sopatients can expect to receive alternative and complementary solutions on the NHS. Until recently,Britain’s approach to healthcare has been considered somewhatbackward compared to our European counterparts, and this contemporaryapproach will help to bring us into the 21st Century.

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Yoga – a treatment for back pain and an effective preventative measure…

Back to the future

Public Service Review: Health and Social Care: issue 25

Professor Littlejohns said the costs to the NHS would be minimal – heanticipates costs will only be afurther £77,000 because of theexpected reduction of disability andhealthcare needs. These guidelineswere welcomed by the CharteredSociety of Physiotherapy and Dr Dries Hettinga of Back Care.

‘Anyone who has been a victim of backpain would probablyagree when sufferingan attack that the pain is all consuming,relentless anddebilitating.’

Joy’s storyAs someone who has suffered debili-tating back pain, I’ve tried a multitudeof treatments and ‘gizmos’. Mostly theimpact was negligible, very short livedor expensive. Like most people, Iwould have done anything to ease thepain and discomfort in order to lead anormal, active life. 20 years later, I’mnot only fully recovered but I alsoretrained to teach yoga. I run Yoga forBack Pain Workshops in my studioand also facilitate Health at WorkProgrammes in the public and privatesector, addressing all kinds of workrelated problems such as RSI, fatigue,depression and persistent headaches.I am convinced that one of the mosteffective treatments for back pain isyoga, in particular, yoga that is influ-enced by the late Vanda Scaravelli,author of ‘Awakening the Spine’.

Not a quick fixThis is not a ‘quick fix’ but a systemof continual learning and practice,which helps to the developmentdeeper postural muscles, creating ahealthy posture. The system I teachemphasises the importance ofbreathing into the back of the lungs,and when practised in conjunctionwith different postures, it enablesspace to be created between the

vertebrae, achieving shifts that cansignificantly realign the spine.

Self-empowermentIf this government is really concernedwith ‘everyone taking responsibilityand playing their part’, it should seriously consider providing yoga aspart of the NHS treatment strategy for back pain. Yoga could be part of a back to work self-empowermentprogramme. As a practitioner andtherapist, I am convinced that formost chronic back pain sufferers,yoga would offer relief from pain aswell as all the attendant psychologicaland emotional benefits.

As Lord Darzi’s polyclinics become afamiliar sight on our high streets, thiscould present an ideal opportunity tointegrate therapeutic yoga into themedical practice. This would not onlyfacilitate a convenient and cost-effec-tive referral point for allopathic andcomplementary therapists, but alsoprovide continuity of care, patientsatisfaction and financial viability.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a GP couldwrite out a prescription offering a

programme of integrated acupuncture,osteopathy and a supervised yogacourse? If sickness from back paincosts employers £6m per year, andthe cost to the country is billions,then providing yoga at work couldprove to be extremely cost-effective.Employees could use yoga not only to get well but also as an effectivepreventative measure.

Book a session today or findout moreIf you are anemployer oremployee who

is interested in introducing any ofthese services to your workplace,please contact us and we will behappy to discuss your requirements.Pick up a free five part mini-coursefrom our website.1 Maniadakis A, Gray A, 2000 Jan; 84(1):95-103

2 Dr Dries Hettinga, Head of Research at The UKCharity Backcare

Joy Anderson YA, AIYP, BYTA, BSY, ITECCEO of Joyoga StudioAuthor of ‘Yoga for Back Pain Tool Kit’Professional Member of the BackCare Charity

Tel: +44 (0)20 7274 7577 Mobile: +44 (0)7788 442566

joy@yogaforbackpain.comwww.yogaforbackpain.com

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Public Service Review: Health and Social Care: issue 25

“I would definitely recommendJoy’s Yoga for Back Pain to every patient of mine,” Dr Zulia Valeyeva-Frost MD, Harley Street UK.

“As an osteopath I would recommend Joy’s yoga school formost of my patients once theyhave recovered from the initialacute phase of back pain,” MardiJameson, Osteopath, CEO BrixtonTherapy Centre, London.

Joy Anderson

© Reproduced with the kind permission of PSCA International Ltd 2010www.publicservice.co.uk