| About 90% of us will suffer from some for of lower | | | | most from yoga as a cure for lower back pain. |
| back pain during our adult lives. When this happens | | | | Specifically tailored routines of yoga postures, can be |
| many of us as back pain sufferers will be given | | | | effective in treating axial and referred back pain, |
| treatment advice that doesn't really treat the underlying | | | | slipped and damaged spinal disks as well as radicular |
| causes of our back pain, focusing instead on simply | | | | back pain including sciatica and piriformis. Although all of |
| trying to manage the symptoms with painkillers and | | | | these types of back pain respond well to gentle |
| other drugs. | | | | extension of the back, through back bends, the first |
| But clinical studies have found that most forms of low | | | | step in using yoga exercise as a cure for back pain is |
| back pain respond well to conservative (non-surgical) | | | | understanding the type of back pain from which we |
| treatments. These simple treatments can really | | | | are suffering. Different types of back pain respond to |
| address the causes of the pain and provide lasting | | | | different yoga poses so only by understanding the |
| relief. | | | | cause of our back pain can we apply the correct cure. |
| Exercise is nature's cure | | | | But more importantly, we need to know which |
| As counter-intuitive as it may seem at first, one of the | | | | exercises to avoid so we can prevent further injury, |
| most effective treatments for lower back pain is | | | | for example, if we are suffering from a slipped disk |
| exercise - regardless of the underlying cause of the | | | | then we should avoid flexion of the back (forward |
| back pain. Exercise is crucial to build and maintain a | | | | bends). |
| healthy cardiovascular system as well as being | | | | Getting started with yoga to cure back pain |
| essential for the development of muscle strength. This | | | | Of utmost importance when using yoga to treat back |
| has particular importance in relation to lower back pain | | | | pain is finding suitable instruction. First you need to find |
| because a leading cause of back pain is weak or | | | | a school that teaches the right kind of yoga. Many |
| unbalanced development of muscles in the back, | | | | yoga schools in the west teach a dynamic or flowing |
| abdomen or legs. Clearly avoiding exercise when we | | | | form of yoga known as Vinyasa. The constant |
| suffer from back pain is only going to further weaken | | | | movement of this type of yoga means that you enter |
| our muscles and make us more susceptible to back | | | | and exit poses very quickly which is not really suitable |
| pain. | | | | for the lower back pain sufferer. To avoid further |
| Exercise treatment for lower back pain focuses on | | | | injury, yoga poses should be entered and exited slowly |
| the extensor and rotator/oblique muscles in the back | | | | allowing for gentle movement so we can check our |
| to build strength and support for the spine. At the | | | | correct alignment and notice pain that may be an |
| same time we need to build abdominal muscle strength | | | | indicator of further injuries to soft tissues in the back. |
| to build our flexion strength in balance and proportion to | | | | Ashtanga, Power yoga, Viniyoga and Bikram yoga are |
| our extension strength. Finally back pain exercises | | | | all types of flowing Vinyasa yoga and may not be |
| should help us to build suppleness in our hamstrings to | | | | suitable for the effective treatment of back pain. |
| aid the unrestricted motion of our hips and pelvis since | | | | Once we have found a yoga center that teaches the |
| restricted movement of the pelvis increases the strain | | | | right style of yoga we need to check out the teacher. |
| on the lower back. | | | | We need to find a teacher that is experienced in |
| Yoga is the natural cure for back pain | | | | practicing and teaching yoga, because their knowledge |
| Because of the gentle nature of yoga and its | | | | of designing a yoga routine and describing each pose |
| effectiveness in building muscle strength and flexibility, a | | | | is an essential part of our yoga experience. Ideally we |
| regular yoga practice is ideal for the prevention and | | | | should look for a teacher who is experienced in |
| treatment of lower back pain. Those of us that are not | | | | treating back pain so they can tailor the routines to our |
| particularly strong or supple are likely to benefit the | | | | specific condition, abilities and needs. |