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Yoga’s Holistic Treatment For Arthritis

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Chronic pain is very common affecting millions of people. One of the main causes of chronic pain is arthritic pain which manifests as aches and pains in the joints. This can range from a mild discomfort to a debilitating pain. Symptoms can come and go and they can be mild, moderate or severe. Common symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. 

Arthritis is not a single disease but is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint inflammation. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions and it can affect people of all ages, sexes and races. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.

Arthritis is a joint disease that can affect any joint. The cartilage is the soft protective material that protects the ends of the joints and prevents them from rubbing against each other. The entire joint is encased in a capsule like structure. The connective tissue which lines the inside of the joint capsule is known as the synovium and the joint capsule is filled with synovial fluid which lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage. Arthritis can affect the joint in several different ways, targeting the synovium, the muscles, tendons or the cartilage. 

Arthritic pain can be treated with medication but several people also find pain relief from gentle exercise such as yoga.

Yoga is a very old practice originating in India over 5000 years ago.  It uses poses (or asanas) in combination with deeply controlled breathing exercises that lead to benefits for the mind, body and spirit. Yoga is a very adaptive exercise which sometimes uses meditation to treat a very wide range of medical conditions and injuries, both mental and physical, such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines, anxiety and stress.

Benefits of yoga for arthritis

A regular gentle yoga routine can have the following benefits for people with arthritis:

1. Relieves joint pain

Gentle yoga has been shown to ease the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis. Yoga moves the joints through their full range of motion which helps to prevent the progression of degenerative arthritis as it uses areas of cartilage which are not normally used. Joint cartilage is like a sponge as it receives fresh nutrients only when its fluid is squeezed out and a new supply is soaked up. Without proper sustenance, neglected areas of cartilage can eventually wear out, exposing the underlying bone.

Chronic pain affects millions of people and can have several causes, including arthritis. Several studies show that practicing yoga can help reduce many types of chronic pain. In fact, studies have shown that regularly practicing yoga can help reduce pain in participants with osteoarthritis of the knees.

2. Reduces Inflammation

Acute inflammation is a normal immune response, but chronic inflammation can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Various studies suggest that practicing yoga may help reduce chronic inflammation

3. Improves bone health

It is well known that weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones and helps to prevent osteoporosis. Many postures in yoga involve lifting your own weight. Studies have shown that regular yoga increases bone density. In addition, the ability of yoga to reduce the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol may help keep calcium in the bones and so prevent bone resorption..

Yoga for Arthritis

When using yoga to help treat arthritis the foundation of the practice will be breathing and meditation but specific poses will be used which are tailored to the practitioner΄s level of movement and comfort.  Stretching is also included as it is fundamental to developing balance and harmony between the mind and body and enhancing the body΄s strength and flexibility. Each pose used during a yoga workout has a specific purpose and a specific physical benefit.  Sometimes the poses will be done in rapid succession to create heat in the body, or sometimes they will be performed more slowly to increase stamina, pose perfection and core strength through holding the pose.  The poses themselves remain the same but how they are entered and approached will vary greatly from discipline to discipline and teacher to teacher.

Asanas for Arthritis

Yoga poses can be tailored specially for specific joints or combinations of joints. For instance, arthritis commonly affects the hands and knuckles, and in this case a series of poses can be used which straighten and lengthen the fingers; although the level of comfort in the arthritis sufferer always dictates the extent of this.  Stretching the hands also feeds energy to that area of the body and over time will assist the arthritis in the fingers.  The heat generated by these movements has been shown to be very beneficial for arthritis sufferers.

Common poses which can be used by people suffering from arthritic pain include child’s pose, cat-cow, downward dog , low lunge, mountain pose, warrior pose, staff pose and the seated spinal twist.

Yoga is very beneficial for arthritic pain but it is important to find an adequately trained instructor who has experience in teaching people suffering from chronic pain. If the instructor is suitably trained, he will have experience in injury prevention. Once you find an instructor you are comfortable with, start slowly and practice regularly so that your body can achieve the maximum benefits possible.