Many people these days are searching for a non-pharmaceutical ways to manage their pain and medical conditions, while simultaneously trying to safely maintain or improve physical fitness. Researches show definitive positive results to this question.
Here’s why….
*Please note, if you have a medical condition, please consult a doctor first to ensure your safety before starting a new fitness routine.
Yoga And Musculoskeletal Problems
What Are Musculoskeletal Conditions?
Musculoskeletal conditions are one of the main cause of physical discomforts and disability. They are defined as injuries that affect bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, and soft tissue. They can be chronic joint inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, to less permanent muscular issues like lower back pain.
With issues like these, it is very common that the primary physician will recommend some sort of complimentary, non-medical treatment, such as Tai Chi or other exercises. Yoga is becoming a popular complimentary alternative therapy for these issues.
How Does Yoga Work?
There are many different aspects that yoga can positively affect pain management for these conditions. The level of exercise and physical movement must be adjusted, to be specific for the individual and their condition. Everyone’s personal flexibility and range of motion are different, and certain condition and injuries can come with limitations.
Fortunately, yoga is for all levels and age groups. Yogic philosophy combines meditation, postures, and breathing exercises to treat the individuals’ mind, body, and spirit. Yoga should never be painful. There are many different yoga practices, but they all state that you should never force your body to do what it can’t and won’t do. Everything (flexibility, strength, and ability to do certain postures) comes with time and regular practice, not immediately or overnight.
Yoga can provide help the body physically in the following ways:
- Circulation to the joints and muscles – even the most gentle exercise provides an increase in blood flow.
- Stretching – most yoga poses are designed to stretch multiple muscle groups at a time. Even short sequences can aide the whole body.
- Strengthens muscles through both gentle endurance training or more rigorous training, depending on the type of practice you chose.
- Burns fat – If a person is overweight, that can be a factor for musculoskeletal issues because it can put extra stress on the joints, thereby causing pain, among other factors.
- Deep breathing – yoga utilizes deep and controlled breathing, and also movements with the breath. These methods bring more oxygen to the tissues. Oxygen is needed for the body to create fuel for the muscles to use if a person is in pain, the initial mental and emotional response can be a wide variety of things, including stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
Yoga helps mentally to cope with the pain and frustration of these conditions by:
- Reducing stress – again, yoga utilizes deep breathing. Think about how you react when you are stressed, chances are you tend to hold your breath. Deep breathing can reduce the heart rate and blood pressure.
- Meditation is a part of yogic practice and has proven very useful and effective at managing both pain and stress according to many studies.
Even just a few minutes a day can provide lasting results. Some of these studies suggest that “mindful meditation is more effective than distraction”.
Can yoga help with non pharmaceutical treatment of musculoskeletal conditions?
In short, yes it can, and quite effectively. Yoga can be done at home for free with very little equipment needed, or for a small fee at your local studio. Instructors generally can be very helpful in providing advice on how to help with specific areas that need attention so be sure to tell them before class what you may need help with.
