Benefits of Yoga for Physical Therapy

Benefits of Yoga for Physical Therapy bodyonept.com 

Benefits of Yoga for Physical Therapy 

Yoga is increasing and has an impact on conventional physical therapy. According to the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health, 21 million U.S. adults participated in several forms of yoga - doubling in size over the past 15 years. Although it is relatively new in the West, yoga has been established in many countries and is older than "Western" medicine originating from the East thousands of years ago. Yoga combines meditation, breathing exercises, self reflection, along with the work of aligning the body and balance to foster physical, mental and spiritual health

While all societies have treatments or medical techniques based on their culture, philosophy and religion, yoga offers the development of very promising research especially those related to physical therapy & pain management in a variety of conditions. It is important to understand that the exact therapeutic effects of yoga, either exclusively or in addition to conventional therapy, are currently still being explored. Now, let's look at yoga and how it can be a strong complement to conventional physical therapy.

1. Increased muscle response

All muscles are covered by fascia (pronounced fash-ee-uh), a very strong connective tissue that surrounds and separates muscles. Fascia is adaptive & plays a role in posture, movement, and sometimes even pain, after injury or surgery. Inside fascia, there are receptors that are part of the nervous system, and convey information about movements. Yoga poses stimulate this tissue, promoting adaptation that may not be handled efficiently with a single joint exercise.

2. Recovery faster

While further research is needed, some evidence to support that combining yoga with conventional physical therapy can provide good results in recovery. A study by Nilima Bedekar (2012) examined conventional therapy with the addition of yoga (gesture posture) to patients after total knee replacement surgery, and found that combing yoga and physical therapy led to an increase in pain relief, less stiffness & overall improvement in function.

3. Treat many problems

Regional interdependence refers to the concept that disturbances that appear to be unrelated in unrelated parts of the body can contribute to major complaints (Wainner, 2007). for example, hip weakness or poor ankle flexibility often play a role in knee pain. When injured, a physical therapist will see more than just a problem area and will assess several joints to target their treatment. Often, this lack of muscle in various locations can be challenged by a single yoga pose. For example, in a child's pose it can target the shoulders, back & hip mobility which promotes more complete care. This allows the therapist to use more effective exercises and deal with various problems simultaneously.

4. Body and mind

The physical component of yoga is one of the many branches. Strong research is emerging in the field of psychology that supports the use of the principles of meditation and yoga to help overcome sad emotional states including anxiety, depression, trauma, and pain. Pain, especially when chronic, is more than just physical irritation in the body. Psychological factors and mal-adaptive beliefs about pain often contribute to symptoms. Incorporating the philosophy of yoga in certain populations may have a strong effect on regulating pain and improving well-being.

This is the point ...

If used in conjunction with conventional physical therapy, new research shows that yoga has the ability to help treat several muscles at once, potentially to accelerate recovery, improve muscle movement & focus the mind. The more we learn about the benefits of these seemingly different health aspects, the more we realize the combination of both goes beyond flexibility and strength building.

Benefits of Yoga for Physical Therapy  yogaonline.com

What is Recovery Yoga

Restorative Yoga is a form of slow yoga that uses props to help relax & hold each asana (pose) in sequence. It is a gentle form of yoga that is based on Hatha Yoga, which is designed to help heal injured muscles, tendons, and bones. It also helps relieve pain by building strength around the injured area, thus removing pressure.

It is also a unique form of yoga that involves doing fewer asanas, but holding it for a longer period of time. The best way to describe it is somewhere between Iyengar and Hatha Yoga. It also triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which responds to fighting stress on the body, both physically and mentally. This creates a feeling of overall well-being and calmness. It calms the nervous system, which then comforts the body and mind.

Build awareness through movement

Some practitioners refer to Restorative Yoga as Mindful Yoga, because it helps injured people to expand their awareness of the body and also the injuries they experience, as well as the relationship between the mind or the pain they feel. Slower movements combined with breathing work help relax the mind and body, helping to create awareness about what happens during the healing process. In simple terms, practitioners begin to feel and be more aware of themselves and learn to adapt and help reduce pain in their daily lives.

The Yoga Recovery Steps open the door for those who practice, so they have a better understanding of their bodies. They have more awareness about what is happening & can overcome injuries with their pain. Restorative yoga will also strengthen the body and thus reduce pain after injury. Practitioners of this form of yoga become aware of their actions and how to deal with pain or discomfort in a more positive way. Asana or breathing allows practitioners to become more aware of their actions not only on yoga mats, but also beyond that.

Benefits of Yoga for Physical Therapy  indeedcare.com

Get sick first, have fun then? Think again

Unlike some forms of yoga in others, Restorative Yoga contradicts the 'no-pain-no-profit' mentality. Instead, it also creates ways to achieve benefits through releasing & giving up on asanas, as opposed to forcing the body into each pose. This allows practitioners to accept their body's limitations, thus helping to strengthen them. When comfort is the key, acceptance will then naturally be the result of practicing Recovery Yoga regularly.

Yoga means binding or being called unifying, which is the essence of Restorative Yoga. This helps practitioners reconnect with their bodies and minds, and the relationship between the two. This is especially true when dealing with pain or injury. It helps in flexibility, balance, strength and awareness, creating overall well-being. It also helps in self transformation, because it is connected with the physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological aspects of one's life.