Using Yoga for Physical Therapy
Yoga has become a daily activity for 20 million Americans. Physical therapists trained in yoga are using yoga poses and breathing exercises to relieve pain, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and manage anxiety and depression.
In 2004 the American College of Sports Medicine noted that physical activity can increase and maintain bone density mass in children and adults, as long as the body gets enough calcium to start with. With decreased bone mineral density, the vertebrae weaken and become vulnerable to collapse. Add poor posture to a weakened spine, and the likelihood of vertebral fracture increases. The weight-bearing exercises of yoga therapy can address this problem.
As in traditional physical therapy, therapists can design an exercise program tailored to your age and fl exibility that incorporates yoga poses and breathing exercises. Practiced with awareness and caution under the guidance of a trained professional, this therapy also
- promotes good posture and coordination through weight-bearing poses—including arm balances, inversions and standing poses
- enhances bone strength (weight bearing on a single limb)
- improves muscles’ endurance, elasticity and stamina
- increases blood flow to promote healing, relieve pain and decrease inflammation
- increases flexibility
- improves balance
- restores range of motion and function
Yoga no longer involves just stretching, either; new versions of “power yoga,” derived from ashtanga yoga, can give participants quite a workout. To avoid injury, do not try yoga without professional guidance or push yourself too zealously.
Yoga is a tool used by physical therapists to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. A physical therapist trained in yoga therapy can show you what this ancient form of exercise can do for you.
