When it comes to mobility, quality of life, and pain medication needs, yoga beats physiotherapy. The Asian method is almost equally useful for bread.
At the end of the day, yoga helps with back pain as much as physiotherapy. This is the result of a study of 320 participants who suffered from back pain for at least 12 weeks. These people were treated either with yoga or physiotherapy mullingar.
Two-thirds were taking painkillers
On a scale from zero (no pain) to ten (very sharp pain), participants rated their pain at an average of seven at the very start of the study. About 70% of them were taking pain medication. Many had limited incomes and had other conditions such as neck pain. These two factors complicate recovery.
A good effect, even if the participants often missed
After twelve weekly yoga sessions, the pain of study participants decreased to an average of 5.3 points. After 15 physiotherapy sessions, they amounted to 5.0 points – knowing that participants in both groups missed at least five sessions on average.
The effect lasted several months
Mobility and quality of life improved equally, regardless of the method followed. The percentage of patients taking painkillers dropped to about 54% after both yoga and physiotherapy sessions. The positive effect lasted for another 40 weeks. The majority of patients said they continued to exercise regularly at home.
oga is an activity that allows you to make movements and maintain postures in different positions by following the rhythm of the breath. There are several types of yoga, some are very gentle, while others may involve rapid sequences of positions and movements similar to gymnastics. In any case, this activity offers many benefits both physically and mentally.
What problems can be addressed by yoga?
Yoga would increase muscle flexibility, mobility as well as joint stability and postural alignment 1 . This activity would also increase leg muscle strength and balance 2 . Regarding mental health, studies suggest that yoga can offer positive effects on depression, anxiety, sleep quality and vitality 2 .
According to several scientific studies, yoga would help reduce pain in the lower back and increase function in everyday activities for patients with chronic low back pain 1 . With regard to chronic neck pain, yoga would also reduce pain, increase neck mobility, quality of life and mood of patients 3 .
Who can benefit?
Yoga can be practiced by everyone. It is simply a matter of choosing the most appropriate style of yoga for your condition, taking into account the presence of injuries or illnesses. Several institutions offer courses adapted for specific clienteles, such as the elderly and pregnant women, who require gentler yoga sessions.
Yoga and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be used in conjunction with yoga to maximize the benefits listed earlier. First, if yoga does not fully address all your muscle tension and pain, the physiotherapist can do a complete assessment and build you a stretching and muscle strengthening exercise program that is individualized and specific to your needs.
On the other hand, like any sporting activity, injuries can occur as a result of yoga. Aches or tenderness of joints and muscles may be felt after the sessions, but if pain persists for more than a few days, it would be better to consult physiotherapy. Injuries due to yoga are relatively rare, but it is not impossible to see the following musculoskeletal injuries 4 :
A general rule to prevent injuries related to the practice of yoga is to respect the limits of the body. If certain positions are uncomfortable, don’t force yourself to do them. Positions should be comfortable or cause a stretching sensation without producing pain. More advanced positions such as inverted postures (“headstand” and “shoulder stand”) require fairly strong neck and shoulder stabilizing muscles, so it would be better to wait to develop these muscles before attempting these positions.
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