Back Pain Relief Through Yoga

Back Pain Relief Through Yoga

The next class dedicated to back health will take place

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Click Here For: Back Pain Relief Through Yoga Do's and Don'ts

Back pain can be caused by many different things. Yoga is a marvellous preventative tool. It can also help you on your road to recovery. Here are some common ailments along with a few tips to keep in mind. Please speak to your doctor before attempting any of these exercises.

Muscle Strain: It takes two to six weeks for a muscle strain to recover to the point where a participant can resume exercise. You should proceed with caution in that area for up to a year as it is now more vulnerable. It is important to strengthen the area gently and cautiously so as not to strain it again. Repetitive strain injuries will build up scar tissue in the area and the repeated inflammation from these injuries could lead to permanent changes in the muscle and ligamentous fibers.

Sciatica: Sciatica is pain along the large sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back down the backs of both legs. This pain can be caused by many different things. It is important to know what is causing it in order for me to recommend exercises for it.

1. The most common cause is a bulging lumbar disk. This often happens when someone bends forward with a rounded spine causing the disk to bulge out the back and then rises up pinching the bulging disk. It can become a chronic problem if proper care is not taken. Gentle extension exercises (such as the sphinx) and gentle abdominal exercises that do not cause your back to round forward may be helpful. The continual focus on proper alignment and posture that yoga provides will be of benefit to you. You need to avoid certain postures so it is essential that you let me know if you have this problem.

2. Also very common is a worn facet joint. This small problem can lead to a great deal of pain. Arching your back will irritate the joint further however you may find relief with properly performed forward bends and controlled pelvic tilts. Yoga is a wonderful way to develop postural awareness which is essential for helping you to reduce and control your pain from this condition.

3. Spinal stenosis caused by a narrowing of the nerve's passageway can be caused by arthritis, a herniated disc, spondylolisthesis (horizontal sliding of the vertebrae), an inflamed ligament, or anything that causes narrowing. There is most often tingling, burning, shooting or radiating pain down the leg. There may be numbness or strange sensations somewhere in the leg or toes. Often there is discomfort when walking and relief while sitting down. Poses that stretch the nerves and the accompanying elements (such as locust) help them fit better into the spinal canal, however backbends may irritate this condition. Supine poses with bent knees may provide some relief and gentle twists, side bends and inversions .

4. Degenerative disc disease can also cause sciatica although the pain is most often in the lower back. Lumbar stabilization exercises may be helpful.

5. Piriformis syndrome is caused by an overly tight or inflamed piriformis muscle irritating the sciatic nerve. The piriformis is a muscle located deep in the hip. Yoga is ideal for this condition! I can show you many poses that can provide relief (such as kapotasana). Click here for more info on piriformis syndrome

6. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (inflammation of the joint) can be helped with gentle range of motion exercises directed at the SI joint.

7. Sacroiliac Joint Derangement is one of the most painful and underdiagnosed back problems. The pain is usually fairly localized on one side or both sides of your back, below your waist about two inches on either side of the midline. Going from a sitting to a standing position (such as exiting the back seat of a car) can be painful. This may coexist with piriformis syndrome. Talk to me, there are many poses that can help ease these joints back into place over time.

Most types of sciatica will benefit from hamstring stretches. Excessive tightness increases stress on the lower back. Hamstring stretches while laying on your back are more gentle.

Muscle spasm feels like an extreme cramp that can last seconds, minutes, hours or much longer. If your doctor has diagnosed your pain as a muscle spasm yoga can be extremely beneficial to you! Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of many poses that you could benefit from.

Arthritis, whether it is Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis or Fibromyalgia will benefit from a gentle yoga program. Click Here For More Info On Yoga For Arthritis.

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