Yoga and Back Pain Yoga is an ancient practice developed in India almost 4,000 years ago and in the last 10+ years yoga has become increasingly popular in the United States. In recent years, researchers have become interested in studying the effects of yoga on treating disease, and studies are showing that yoga can be a useful part of the treatment plan for a number of different medical conditions - heart disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, epilepsy, asthma, addiction, and many others - including neck and back pain. Benefits of Yoga for Back and Neck Pain Many aspects of yoga make it ideal for treating back pain and neck pain. For example, studies have shown that those who practice yoga for twice a week for 8 weeks make significant gains in strength, flexibility, and endurance, which is a basic goal of most rehabilitation programs for back or neck pain. Keep in mind that no one treatment works for everyone, but Yoga can be an important part of an overall treatment plan. Many people with back problems have found yoga to provide several benefits, including: • Pain Relief • Increased strength and flexibility • Teaching relaxation and acceptance Yoga and Pain: The breathing and meditation aspects of yoga induce a relaxation response that has been found in many studies to assist people in decreasing their pain. Yoga has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of depression and anxiety that can often accompany pain problems. Yoga and Flexibility: Many times those who are not inherently flexible actually benefit from yoga the most. In addition, most yoga poses can be modified for beginners so that everyone can do a version of the poses. Is Yoga Safe For Anyone? Yoga can be safe and beneficial for most people, but depending on your specific medical condition, certain poses may need to be modified or avoided. If you are being treated for a spine condition at SpineOne, or any other Spine Specialist, you should ask your Specialist or Physical Therapist if Yoga is right for you and if there are certain poses/stretches that should be avoided. A couple of examples of patients who may need to avoid certain yoga poses include: • Patients who have been diagnosed with advanced spinal stenosis should avoid extreme extension of the spine such as back bends in yoga. • Patients with advanced cervical spine disease should avoid doing headstands and shoulder stands in yoga. Communication Is Key: Most of the precautions surrounding the yoga poses can be determined by understanding your specific medical condition, discussing Yoga with your Spine Specialist and/or Physical Therapist, using common sense, and good communication with your yoga instructor so the/she can potentially assist. Denver Back Pain Specialists SpineOne has been helping people with neck or back pain since 2000. If you, or someone you love, is experiencing neck or back pain and need help, call 303-500-8611 to schedule an appointment and get started on the road to recovery today. If interested, here is an informative introduction video for stretching and Yoga to help with back pain:
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:26:20 +0000
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