Millions of people in the US suffer from pain, anxiety, and depression. As a result, yoga is becoming more popular for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Here you’ll discover what it is and how it can benefit you during rehabilitation.
What Is Yoga?
It is an ancient Hindu practice. It centers on attaining inner peace and transformation of self and often involves concentration and deep breathing. It also uses physical poses to improve flexibility and well-being.
In recent years, Yoga has become a popular form of exercise worldwide. It has also caught on with physical therapists in the clinical setting. Combining postural movements, reflexology, and body mechanics, it improves strength, flexibility, and balance. It also facilitates deep breathing and concentration to aid in the healing process.
8 Reasons To Combine Yoga With Physical Therapy
The LifeMotion Physical Therapy team uses every tool available to achieve the best possible results. Yoga is one of those techniques to help you recover from surgery or injury.
Here are the top six reasons we incorporate Yoga into our physical therapy programs.
1. Helps Reduce Pain
Yoga helps reduce pain associated with common conditions such as:
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
It helps improve vitality, morning stiffness, and sleep disorders caused by chronic pain. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University study yoga’s effects on pain. They have proven the benefits of yoga for people with arthritis.
Other clinical trials show that It helps reduce chronic low back pain. It also improves spinal mobility and lower back function.
2. Increases Flexibility
Joint pain is often the result of tight muscles. Incorporating yoga exercises helps loosen muscles and connective tissues around the joints. The demands of it also benefit breathing and relaxation. These techniques can improve pelvic floor health. Areas affected are:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Low back
- Legs
- Improves Strength
Yoga also builds strength in all areas by utilizing only your body weight. Many poses engage your lower abdominal region, which helps build your core muscles.
Holding positions for extended periods can also increase muscle strength throughout the body. For example, pushing up with your hands in the plank pose increases core strength. It also challenges the upper arms and legs.
3. Increases Mobility
Your body experiences trauma from an injury or major surgery. You will often have trouble performing daily tasks that were once easy. As a result, you must undergo physical therapy to help retrain those areas to function again.
Yoga is one of many tools your LifeMotion Physical Therapy team utilizes. The wide variety of poses and mindfulness techniques help aid joint and spine mobility.
4. Speed’s Up Recovery
Yoga also helps relax muscles and improves blood flow to injured or recovering areas of your body. It helps facilitate other types of exercises as well. Besides, it’s effective when used with various treatment modalities, including chiropractic adjustments.
Performing these exercises enhances circulation and improves endurance. It also allows the muscles to process waste products faster. The result is a speedier healing process.
5. Helps You Sleep better
Sleep is essential to your rehabilitation and recovery. These exercises help increase oxygen to your brain and release tight muscles to help you relax. Both benefits will help you sleep better at night and aid in healing.
In addition, the mindfulness techniques you learn while practicing yoga benefit your:
- Heart Rate
- Blood pressure
- Stress management
- Melatonin levels
- Improves Cardio Function
Studies show that yoga combined with physical therapy decreases blood pressure and improves cardiac function. It may also reduce body mass index and decrease inflammation throughout the body. It improves lung function in most people. It can also reduce stress, which also helps improve heart health.
6.Prevents Future Injuries
Practicing these exercises post-rehab is a great way to stay in shape and prevent future health problems. Building strength and flexibility makes your muscles and tendons less susceptible to injuries.
Your LifeMotion Physical Therapy team will work with you to ensure you’re ready for life’s physical challenges. But beyond that, it’s up to you to keep going with your home exercise program. Of course, if you have questions while searching for a Tulsa Chiropractor or need further assistance, we’re here to help.
