Knee and Back Pain with the Help of Yoga Part 1
By Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher
Knee And Back Pain with the Help of Yoga Part 1
Knee and back pain can be alleviated through practice
of both yoga postures that stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee joint.
With knees, make sure that the knee stays in line with the ankle and does not twist
in or out. Avoid seated postures that have the knee turned out to the side (like
bound angle, seated head to knee). When doing postures with the knees on the floor,
make sure you use a blanket or other padding so you do not feel any pain or intense
pressure.
You should set up a specific goal for the day and
try to attain it, however much it hurts (within reason). A beginning goal might be
to walk half a block a day and increase the distance gradually over time. Doctors
and physical therapists can help determine safe and effective ways to recondition
your bodies. Initially, it will hurt. The muscles have not been used for a long
time. The pain signifies that the muscle being exercised has been weakened by lack
of use. Gentle stretching exercises such as yoga are very useful, this will help
your knee and back pain.
With knee pain, over a period of time the lower
back will also begin to suffer. As the pressure of relieving the 'weak' knee is
transferred to the other, which in turn puts pressure on the lower back.
You may not notice this shift as the body is
really good at compensating and with the imbalance now in place, this now becomes
the 'norm' as the body tries to re-balance itself. Sometimes back pain will be
felt, not always.
Even if you do practice yoga, it is always a
good idea to have your body/spine checked for imbalances by your healthcare
professional. Visiting your osteopath, spinal therapist, chiropractor, massage
therapist every now and again will help you to be more aware of your body and
to take steps to rectify any imbalances.
The researchers say that exercise has previously
been shown to relieve chronic low back pain, but this is the first study to
suggest yoga may be superior to other forms of exercise. "Yoga may be beneficial
for back pain because it involves physical movement, but it may also exert
benefits through its effects on mental focus," they write. This focus could
help patients "increase their awareness of how they had been moving and positioning
their body in maladaptive ways, to relax tense muscles, and to relieve mental stress."
Continued ...
About the
author:
Glen Wood - The Yoga Teacher, dedicated to unlocking the Real Secrets of Back and Shoulder Pain.
To help you further with your shoulder/back pain you need to sign up for your FREE
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I wish you all the best on your yoga adventure!
To your health,
Thomas T :)
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