New research has suggested that the motions associated with the pose Muslims take in their daily call to prayer may offer relief from lower back pain, in a way similar to physical therapy and yoga. The new study found that regularly practicing this motion could offer patients an easy and cost-effective way to deal with their lower back discomfort.

The study, published online in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, found that the pose Muslims strike during their call to prayer, which involves kneeling and placing their foreheads to the ground, is great for reducing lower back pain if done regularly. However, before you try this pose on your own, it's best to consult a healthcare professional, as the study also found that practicing this pose incorrectly may actually make pain worse.

Read: Is Yoga For Lower Back Pain Backed By Science? Pain Relief And Improved Function Found By Study

"One way to think about the movements is that they are similar to those of yoga or physical therapy intervention exercises used to treat low back pain," said study co-author Dr. Mohammad Khasawneh in a recent statement. "Physical health is influenced by socio-economic, lifestyle and religious factors. Moreover, studies indicate that there is a strong association between prayer and vigilance about maintaining a physically healthy lifestyle."

For the research, the team from Binghamton University, State University of New York, used a computer-generated model of healthy adult men and women from various ethnic and national backgrounds, including Indian, Asian, and American examples. The model showed that while bowing is the most stressful on the lower back, the angles in the downward kneeling most commonly associated with Muslim prayer actually reduced this pain.

"The kneeling posture (sujud) increases the elasticity of joints. It is recommended for these individuals to spend more time in the kneeling posture," concluded Khasawneh.

Since painkillers such as Tylenol have recently been shown to do absolutely nothing to help lower back pain, sufferers are desperate to find relief. Past research has also suggested that yoga may be especially helpful for those dealing with lower back pain. According to the research, individuals who practiced yoga experienced moderate relief in back-related function, compared with individuals who did not exercise at all.

In addition, chiropractic adjustment may offer a bit of relief for lower back pain. This is because chiropractic helps to realign the spine, which could help put the joints back in their normal range of motion. This in turn may help restore normal muscle function, and reduce lower back pain.

Source: Aglan F, Ahmed A, Cao W, Hhasawneh MT. An ergonomic study of body motions during Muslim prayer using digital human modelling. International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering. 2017

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