Skip to main content

Yoga for Low Back Pain Relief: Alternative No Longer


A growing number of medical professionals are finding that yoga can provide relief for some low back pain sufferers. Within the past few years, findings from well- designed, peer-reviewed studies have begun to move the practice of yoga beyond the category of alternative therapy.
One widely cited study from Annals of Internal Medicine followed three groups of adults (101 people total) with chronic low back pain over a 12-week period, comparing their experiences with yoga, conventional physical therapy or a self-help book. Yoga yielded significantly better results overall, with benefits that included reduced pain and improved back function. Importantly, these benefits lasted at least 14 weeks after the yoga intervention ended.
Researchers have not yet determined how yoga helps relieve low back pain. Among the possible hypotheses: Yoga increases muscle strength and flexibility, reduces muscle tension, decreases fear and avoidance of movement and reduces psychological stress.
Is Yoga Right for You? Yoga isn't the answer for everyone with chronic low back pain. The study only looked at the effect of yoga in people with back pain caused by minor issues, such as muscle strains and sprains. If a more serious condition, such as a herniated disk, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or a vertebral compression fracture, is responsible for back pain, it may be best to avoid yoga altogether. To be safe, check with your doctor before you begin a yoga program.
Not All Yoga Is the Same. If your doctor gives you the green light, make sure you know exactly what type of yoga is being taught before you sign up. Some schools of yoga like Kundalini, Ashtanga and Bikram ("hot") yoga are fairly specialized and may be too challenging for beginners. Viniyoga and Iyengar yoga are appropriate for newcomers and those with physical limitations such as back pain.
Regardless of the type of yoga you choose, it's important to find a qualified instructor who is experienced in teaching people with low back pain. Your doctor or physical therapist may be able to recommend a teacher.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How (and why) to check your medical records

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is designed to protect patient health information and guard medical privacy. Only you, your insurance company and your doctors can access your records. You may want to have a copy of your records to check for mistakes or to recall your medication history. Talk to your doctor's office about how to access your records online. Different services require different procedures. Some doctors require you to fill out a form. Do it at the doctor's office in case you need help. Write down specific information you want, such as blood pressure, scans, blood and urine tests, cholesterol levels, and history of surgery or other procedures. Pay any fee. When you receive the records, check to see that all the information you requested is included. Check the records for mistakes. If you find anything you don't understand, call the health-care provider's office and ask for an explanation. If it is a mistake, ask the provider...
2 comments
Read more

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hеrе Arе 6 Ways Tо Gеt Exercise Whіlе At Work

Rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf hоw уоu choose tо dо it, studies show thеrе аrе numerous benefits tо moving аt work. Physical activity аt work саn hеlр employees іn thе fоllоwіng ways: 1. Find а path. Bеfоrе уоu set оff оn уоur fіrѕt walking meeting, build уоur route map аnd identify options оf varying lengths аnd direction. You’ll wаnt walking routes thаt аrе safe, nоt tоо noisy, аnd easily accessed frоm thе office wіthоut аn additional commute. 2. Walk bу yourself. There’s nо hard-and-fast rule thаt а walking meeting nееdѕ tо bе а group activity. Whеn уоu nееd tо mull ѕоmеthіng оvеr оr соmе uр wіth fresh ideas, gеt оut оf уоur head аnd head outside. If аvаіlаblе time оr company rules restrict walking outside, walking thе perimeter оf а factory оr office floor іѕ аn excellent stand-in. 3. Invite appointments tо walk іnѕtеаd оf hаvіng а seated meeting. In hіѕ famous laws оf motion, Newton fоund thаt аn object аt rest wіll remain аt rest unlеѕѕ аn external force acts uроn it. Bе thаt external for...
Post a Comment
Read more