Posts Tagged ‘Healing Back Pain’

Is Yoga an Effective Treatment for Back Pain

The word yoga means ‘unity’ or ‘harmony’. Yoga is a way of healing the body through exercises that combine postures, movements and breathing techniques.

To the extent that stretching and strengthening your body is helpful – and I believe this beyond a doubt – yoga instruction can be an excellent treatment for back pains. To the extent that stress contributes to back pain yoga instruction can bring significant relief.

The yoga philosophy of never forcing or straining, and of moving in a fluid, meditative manner, makes excellent sense for people with back problems. But yoga philosophy also encompasses the harmony of mind, body and spirit – a concept that is difficult for some back pain sufferers to grasp, or to take seriously. Although yoga traces its history back to the Hindu culture of India, it is not a religion.

A few of the US survey participants learned yoga entirely on their own, from books and articles. But those who were helped the most got started with professional and personalized instruction. Not all yoga teachers have the experience or the desire to work effectively with people who report a history of back problems. Some of them, however, possess advanced degrees in exercise physiology and may be especially qualified to prescribe exercise. An important determinant of success is the instructor’s willingness to modify the therapy to suit your needs.

If yoga instruction is available where you live, drop by the school or studio and speak to an instructor. You may get a chance to see the instructor in action, and determine whether you feel you’ll get the kind of intelligent, individual attention that you were hoping to find.

Before I extol yoga any further, however, I must interject a note of caution: Many formal yoga positions are dangerous to attempt during any episode of pain. This is especially true for just-recovering back sufferers.

At least two regular yoga positions could actually cause considerable injury to your back if you tried to perform them while you were in pain, or before you had developed the necessary flexibility. One is the Cobra, which calls for you to lie on your stomach and arch your back by raising your head and chest. The other is the Plough, in which you lie on your back, then raise your straightened legs (ouch!) up and over your head, until you can touch your toes behind your head.

Here’s one yoga exercise that you can perform anywhere, as it involves nothing more than deep breathing to help you relax and tone your abdominal muscles:

Start by taking a deep breath from your abdomen. (Put your fingers on your belly to convince yourself that it – and not just your chest – is expanding.)

Keep inhaling through your nose for 6 seconds.

Hold the air inside your lungs for 3 seconds.

Exhale through your mouth for 7 seconds. As you do so, let yourself go limp.

Repeat this series of steps a few times, alternating the deep breaths with normal breaths (in order to avoid the risk of hyperventilating).

Finally, Relief For Back Pain Sufferers

If you’re one of the millions of people that suffer from back and neck pain, then you know that its one of the most debilitating pains. Not only can you not do all the things you would like to do in fear that your back might go out, but you also can’t do anything when your back pain is bothering you. Well over 80% of Americans have suffered back and neck pain at least once in their life. Back pain is caused by several different things, such as pressure on the spine from vertebrate disks being out of place, nerve and muscular problems as well as arthritis. Upper, lower and middle pain symptoms include:
Aching and stiffness along the spine as well as pain from the neck to the hips,
Sharp pains in the upper or lower back, especially after strenuous activities,
An ache in the middle or lower back that is constant, especially after sitting or standing in a certain position for several hours.
If your one of the many people that have experienced back pain or are prone to back and neck aches, there are several different treatments to choose from. One of the main treatments, is to see a Chiropractor on a weekly basis. A lot of people just go once and the pain goes away instantly. Unfortunately, for problems such as this, one visit just won’t do. Other treatments include:
Homeopathic remedies such as hot or cold treatments, exercise, extension exercises, stretching and aerobic exercise.
Acupuncture and trigger points
Back pain medications including NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen. Acetaminophens like Tylenol, and panadol. Opioid painkillers such as codeine, morphine, Vicodin, and Percocet. There are also several other things you can take. As with any drug, even something like aspirin, please talk to your doctor before you take it. Some of these drugs can’t be used continually whereas others can have side effects such as nausea and dizziness.
Other treatments including aspirin or yoga. Aspirin is muscle relaxer but it also helps with the inflammation that can happen in your spine and back area. Yoga on the other hand, not only strengthens your back and neck but it also “stretches” your spine.
Some of the best sites that you can visit are WebMD, MEDLINEplus, and MayoClinic for more information on what causes back pain and how to cease it. If you wish to pursue one of the treatments above, please speak to your Doctor beforehand. I wish you luck in finding the right solution for your neck or back pain. I know how hard it is to live with such a horrible pain!