Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi

Healing Benefits of Yoga

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

People who suffer from ongoing or recurrent bouts of back pain often have to try a number of different forms of exercise to find the most appropriate therapy to manage their pain. For many, yoga has proven to be a safe and effective way to finally alleviate many forms of back pain or neck pain and help prevent ongoing problems.

How yoga can help

Yoga can provide several healing benefits for people with various types of back pain. For example, yoga can help by:

Yoga for Back Problems

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Yoga is an ancient practice developed in India almost 4,000 years ago. In the last decade yoga has become increasingly popular in the west, and currently, about 15 million people in the United Stated do yoga.

Generally in the US, yoga classes consist of a combination of physical exercises, breathing exercises, and meditation. Yoga has been used for thousands of years to promote health and prevent disease, and many people with back problems have found yoga to provide several benefits, including:

Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi for Pain Relief - Patients' Advice

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Thoughts on Pilates for back pain

I'm a physical therapist with an L3-4 spine fusion and I also specialize in outpatient orthopedics. You have wonderful questions!

I believe that most back problems stem from people losing control over their spine in general. You have to know your spinal limitations in order to get stronger and avoid problems. Makes sense right?
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How Yoga Helps the Back

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Yoga benefits both the mind and the body

The most commonly practiced form of yoga is Hatha yoga. A physical form, Hatha yoga incorporates a series of poses called Asanas, while relying on a breathing technique, referred to as Pranayama. By adopting very basic and sometimes very complex body postures and breathing techniques, the goal of yoga is to provide the practitioner a number of physical and mental benefits.

Tai Chi Practice

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

The gentle nature of Tai Chi allows for a wide range of possible practitioners. For example, people who find high impact aerobics and other exercise routines painful or uncomfortable are excellent candidates for Tai Chi, a slow moving, low-impact exercise.

Unlike other exercises that can be learned simply from following diagrams, Tai Chi is a fluid movement that requires very deliberate and precise movements. It is therefore best to find an instructor who can demonstrate the Tai Chi movements and techniques.

Types of Yoga

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

There are many different types of yoga, and it is important to choose a form that is appropriate for each individual's level of fitness, goals, and medical condition. Some of the most popular and widely available forms are briefly explained below.

Tai Chi for Posture and Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Tai Chi is a form of exercise that has recently been gaining popularity as a way to relieve and/or manage back pain and neck pain. It is often easy to associate Tai Chi with groups of people in parks or gyms moving slowly and deliberately in synchronization. These people are using the same Tai Chi principles and movements created in ancient China and still practiced all around the world as a healing exercise.

Yoga Poses

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Yoga used by physical therapists

Interestingly enough, many of the basic yoga positions are already commonly practiced by various physical therapists and other physical rehabilitation professionals. For patients who have already had physical therapy for back pain, many yoga stretches and poses will feel familiar.

Common poses used in yoga exercise

The following briefly describes three poses commonly used in yoga exercise:

Tai Chi Theory

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Tai Chi emphasizes breathing and movement that are both flowing and graceful. Though its primary action is in the movement and breathing, this must all be carried out with particular mental focus during Tai Chi. This is why Tai Chi has often been referred to as "meditation in motion."

Pilates Exercise System to Promote Back Health

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:44 -0800

Pilates is an exercise program that focuses on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of neutral alignment of the spine and strengthening the deep postural muscles that support this alignment, which are important to help alleviate and prevent back pain.

Pilates Exercise and Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:44 -0800

The important principles of Pilates are consistent with an exercise program that promotes back health. In particular, learning awareness of neutral alignment of the spine and strengthening the deep postural muscles that support this alignment are important skills for the back pain patient.

Snow Removal Techniques to Prevent Low Back Injuries

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:01:30 -0800

Snow removal injuries

One of the more common causes of back injuries during the winter months is snow removal. Using the wrong body mechanics when shoveling snow can put undue stress on the spine and lead to muscle strains, falls, or more serious back injuries.

The following snow removal tips can help you to avoid low back injuries and pain during the snowy winter season.