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Yoga For Back Pain — Part 2

Improving mobility of the lower body is also important in controlling back pain.

Tightness in large muscles in the lower body are also very frequent causes of in low back pain. The most common culprits are the hamstrings (back of your thigh) and the hip flexor, a deep muscle in the front of your hip that attaches to the low back. The hip flexor can causes increased curve in the low back and pulls your pelvis forward if it is tight. The hamstrings often cause a flattening of the curve in the low back and tilt the pelvis backwards when it is tight. This creates abnormal stresses upon the spine.

Again review detailed instruction on each pose at www.yogajournal.com

Hip Flexor Stretching: Stretch should be felt in front of hip and thigh of the back leg.
Hamstring stretching: There are many forms of hamstring stretching. Performing stretching on one’s back is the safest place to begin because the back is supported, minimizing stress on the spine.

Lastly, yoga is beneficial in stabilizing the core by increasing abdominal awareness with the use of breath work. Breath assists the expansion and contraction of the abdominal cavity which houses the abdominal and lumbar musculature. So, as we deepen our breath in and use our breath to propel our motion it stimulates the activation of these muscles. Yoga teaches us to draw our attention to our core and move mindfully from our center to build strength and stability in the spine.

Standing and balance poses also encourage simultaneous contraction of muscles in the front and back of the body. This teaches the core to work in the ways that we move on a daily basis. Therefore, the combination of awareness, breath, and balance poses make yoga endurance work out for our core.

This article highlights only some of the ways yoga can assist in treating low back pain. However, it is important to note that not all back pain is the same. Different diagnoses have different causes and aggravating factors. It is important understand your limitations before initiating a yoga program. Yoga is not appropriate for treating severe back pain or acute aggravation of back pain. Yoga is a great way to manage low back pain that has been diagnosed and controlled. Please consult your physical therapist or primary care physician before you begin. Namaste.

If you have any questions or are interested in more information on this topic check out www.trucarept.com or contact Ericka at (401) 884-9541

Post contributed by: Ericka Fryburg MPT

Yoga for Back Pain — Part 1

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out physical therapy care, and clients often ask if yoga can improve their low back symptoms. Therefore, as part of National Yoga Month this September, Tru-Care Physical Therapy would like to share some insight why yoga is often considered effective in the treatment of back pain.

Yoga has many benefits that assist in the management of low back pain that include improving posture, increasing flexibility, and stabilizing the spine by increasing core strength.

Part I

First, and most importantly, yoga can help improve postural imbalances that lead to low back pain. You can increase body awareness with basic poses. The most basic of all standing yoga poses or “asanas” is Tadasana or Mountain pose. At first glance it may seem like you are simply standing. However, it is the attention to “how” you are standing that makes it so important. For guided instruction on how to do mindful Tadasana pose see the previous post on standing posture from May 2013.

The next benefit of yoga is increasing flexibility of the spine and extremities. The main components of spinal motion are flexion (forward bending), extension (backwards bending), rotation (twisting), and lateral flexion (side bending). Yoga asanas address all of the motions of the spine through poses of various intensity and difficulty. Below are some gentle yoga poses that address each of these motions.

When performing these poses listen to your body so you do not cause pain. Take slow, deep breaths and try to increase your motions. The pictures below are taken from www.yogajournal.com which is a great reference for all things yoga. The Yoga Journal site also provides step by step instructions to safely perform each of these poses.

Cow: improves back bending (extension) of the spine.

As you inhale, lift your sitting bones and chest toward the ceiling, allowing your belly to sink toward the floor. Lift your head to look straight forward.

Exhale, coming back to neutral “tabletop” position on your hands
and knees. Repeat 10 to 20 times.
Cat: Improves forward bending (flexion) of the spine.

As you exhale, round your spine toward the ceiling, making sure to
keep your shoulders and knees in position. Release your head
toward the floor, but don’t force your chin to your chest.

* Cat and cow can be held as isolated stretches for 30 secs each (2-3 reps)or you can move between the two poses with each breath doing 10-15 reps of each.
Child’s Pose Stretch: improves lumbar flexion. It is also a great place to begin side bending by walking both hands to one side creating length in the side of the body.

Begin kneeling and sit onto your heels.

Reach arms forward in front of you and lower your head toward the floor.

Sustain the position 30-90 secs relaxing into the pose with each breath.
Supine Spinal Twist: improves rotation of the spine. Performing twists lying on your back is the safest place to begin twisting because the back is supported, minimizing stress on the spine.

Begin on your back with arms to the sides.

Turn your head to the right.

Bring your right knee up and across your left leg<.

Let your right leg rest across the left stretching towards the floor.

Child’s pose and spinal twist can be performed for 30-60 secs. Attend to your breath as you slowly let your low back stretch.

For more detailed instruction in performing these yoga poses you can again refer to www.yogajournal.com

Next post will instruct in 2 hip stretches that will effect the low back, as well as more information on breath and balance. If you have any questions or are interested in more information on this topic check out www.trucarept.com or contact Ericka at (401) 884-9541

Post contributed by: Ericka Fryburg MPT

Why am I Taller in the Morning?

Ever notice that when you get into your car at the end of the day you need to readjust the mirrors? Somehow you are not sitting as tall as you did when you got into the car in the morning. Are you shrinking?

Well, yes, in a way you are. The discs in your back are cushions of sorts and they react to pressure. After a good nights sleep lying stretched out without compression on your spine the discs are full and plump. This makes your spine a little longer and taller. Once you are up sitting, walking and vertical all day gravity takes its effect and slowly compresses those discs. As they compress they loss a bit of fluid and and become a bit narrower bringing your vertebrae closer together. Essentially you are shorter than when you started your day!

Over time our discs become "dehydrated" and are less plump and flexible. This is part of the reason that over our lifetime we may lose up to 2 inches or so. On average we begin shrinking at about age 40 and lose about a 1/4 inch per decade. If you are losing more height than that some other issues may be involved. You could be losing muscle bulk and decreased strength allowing for poor posture that can result in decreased height. Osteoporosis could also be a culprit as the bones lose density they can also compress.

So don't be surprised when you need to adjust your mirrors. It's part of standing upright all day. If you feel you are losing more than the average be sure to check in with your physician or physical therapist to be sure there are no other factors involved. Try to keep yourself active, maintain your muscle tone and strength. These will keep you standing tall. Visit RI Limb Prosthetics, Orthotics And Physical Therapy for more information or call (401) 884-9541