Can yoga help with scoliosis
If you have scoliosis, it means your spine is not straight. Even if you are not forbidden to do sports (on the contrary, it strengthens the muscles and protects the back), you are wondering about doing yoga?
Are you afraid of feeling pain in your back? And yet, a recent study shows on the contrary that yoga can help to straighten the spine. In the best cases, improvements of 49% in curvature have been noted. This deserves to be looked at more closely?
Scoliosis, a common condition
2 to 3% of adolescents have scoliosis, a deformation of the spine in the frontal, horizontal and sagittal planes. In summary, the spine forms an S.
Idiopathic scoliosis usually appears during childhood and science has not yet formally identified its causes. There is also a form of traumatic scoliosis.
As you grow older, the curvature of the spine may become more pronounced. To prevent this risk, physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and the wearing of a corset are generally prescribed by doctors.
Some of the consequences of scoliosis include :
• Back pain,
• Breathing problems,
• Acute spinal pain.
Not to mention the psychological difficulties that can affect affected children, particularly those related to visible back deformity or the wearing of a corset.
Doing yoga reduces the curvature of the spine
This scientific discovery will give hope to many people suffering from this pathology!
A study published in 2014 in the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine shows the results obtained on 25 patients.
By holding the Vasisthasana posture, also known as the side board, for less than 2 minutes each day, the yogi apprentices saw the curvature of their scoliosis decrease by 32 to 49%. These results are very encouraging when we know that conventional treatment does not allow the curvature to be resorbed, but slows down its evolution.
So if you still have doubts, now is the time to purchase a yoga mat and start practicing this beneficial discipline on a physical and psychological level!
Recommended yoga exercises
Before you embark on yoga classes, it is important to follow a few essential recommendations:
• Some yoga postures can aggravate scoliosis, so it is important not to do just anything,
• Knowing the basics of yoga is essential, so you need to find a yoga teacher who will give you the right instruction,
• Ask your doctor if he or she sees any contraindications to practicing yoga,
• Report your scoliosis to your yoga teacher and make sure he or she is qualified to teach yoga to people with back problems.
Beneficial exercises include several postures, also known as asanas :
• Vasisthasana: the side board,
• Sarva Hita Hasana: the lateral flexion of the upper body,
• Trikonasana: the triangle,
• Gomukhasana: the head of cow.
Working the lateral muscles of the bust is essential in case of scoliosis.
All these movements take this into account. Stretching also increases flexibility. Focusing therapeutic yoga on strengthening the back muscles also helps prevent the scoliosis from getting worse.
The advantage of yoga? There are classes for children. So it can be practiced at any age and these postures are simple to perform. Without forgetting that children's yoga classes are fun and always end with relaxation and breathing exercises.
The child or teenager who practices yoga will benefit in other ways. The benefits of yoga are indeed numerous. Among them :
• Relaxation and calm,
• Concentration and attention,
• Fight against stress and anxiety,
• Reinforcement of self-confidence.
And during yoga classes, they will learn to keep their backs straight. The bad positions taken daily go hand in hand with the aggravation of scoliosis.
If it is not advisable to start on your own at first, once you have acquired the basics, you can create your yoga routine and do yoga at home easily. A good idea to start the day at peace with yourself.
Mediation exercises soothe the mind and are part of the teachings of your yoga classes.
To benefit from these positive effects, don't hesitate to inquire and find a good yoga teacher!
