Yoga is a tradition that spans back thousands of years, and has long been a way to promote flexibility, strength, peace, and mindfulness. Some practice yoga for the physical benefits or the spiritual benefits, but most practitioners seek to enjoy both. For back pain sufferers, yoga can be a gentle way to relieve pain and increase mobility and function.
In studies conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institute of Health, individuals who suffer from chronic back pain reported lower levels of pain and increase mobility after 12 weeks of yoga practice. In a follow-up, study, these individuals still reported an improvement, 26 weeks after the first study ended.
Ways Yoga Relieves Back Pain:
- Yoga builds flexibility and strengthens abdominal muscles, which support the spine.
- Holding poses for several breaths can help gently stretch muscles.
- Proper stretching of back muscles can decrease the stress the area experiences.
- Yoga can relieve stress, pain, and anxiety, which can help break the cycle of back pain.
- Yoga improves posture, which can help ease pain and encourage proper alignment of the spine.
- Yoga creates an overall awareness of your body and can help you recognize poor positioning or tension.
- Yoga encourages you to observe your breaths, which can help you control your heart rate and reduce stress, even when you are going about your daily life.
- Yoga stretches and strengthens both sides of the body equally to prevent overworking one side.
- Yoga encourages blood flow to the muscles, which can help sore muscles repair themselves.
There are a number of online pose guides that can direct you to beginner-level poses that can ease your back pain and begin you on your journey to pain-free living. Check in your area for a beginner yoga class, and discuss your needs with the instructor. There are many poses, and even more modifications, that can help you start your yoga practice, no matter your physical ability.
Yoga can be a powerful tool to help you regain mobility and take control of your state of mind. Yoga addresses the physical and mental causes of pain and can help you in many areas of your life. While it is not an immediate fix, gradual changes through yoga can help you continue your back pain treatment with more ease, and you may receive enough relief to reduce your need for painkillers to make it through your day.
Talk to a Back Pain Treatment Professional – (630) 426-3270
Back pain can be debilitating and interfere with your daily life. At the ProMed Pain Rehabilitation Institute, we are dedicated to helping our patients find relief from chronic back pain with high-quality, noninvasive treatments. Our Bolingbrook back pain treatment doctor, Dr. George Papadopoulos, has developed a number of unique and effective treatment protocols to help your chronic pain issues.
Learn more about your pain relief options. Contact our team to schedule an appointment. Call (630) 426-3270 today.