While attending an intensive yoga teacher training, Paul gave a talk about the pain that I will never forget. Basically, he said: "When we are healthy, we usually take life for granted, but when we are in pain, we cannot think about anything else." Yogic science directly addresses suffering and tries its best to make us enjoy a pain-free life. As you know, there are no guarantees in life, but we can be proactive to live the best possible life we have during each precious moment.
Regular yoga practice is one of the best remedies for knee pain. Not only do physical therapists use certain yoga exercises in their rehabilitation routines, but physical, occupational and yoga therapists have also been recommending poses and series based on yoga techniques for decades.
common causes of knee pain
Knee pain occurs due to many reasons. Often, it is the result of chronic injuries such as torn ligaments or meniscus that have healed improperly or incompletely. Another common cause of knee pain is tendonitis, which can result from overuse of the patellar tendon. Some young patients suffer from chondromalacia, which is characterized by softening of the cartilage under the knee. Older patients may have joint pain in the knee as a result of arthritis, and sometimes chronic muscle injuries can cause scar tissue to build up around the knee, which can also cause pain.
Common ways to relieve knee pain
As with some of the more common causes of knee pain, the best treatment is ice and rest until the acute inflammation subsides, and then begin a consistent physical therapy program to promote strength and mobility. What physical therapy does is strengthen and tone the muscles around the joint or site of injury, prevent over-compensation from over- or over-stressing the knee, promote proper anatomical alignment within the leg, and heal weak or under-performing joints. Avoid straining the muscles.
Why yoga works for knee pain
A daily or regular yoga practice can reduce or eliminate knee pain because some of the physical benefits of the practice serve the same purpose that physical therapy does. The purpose of physical yoga postures is to properly stretch, strengthen, and align the body so that the practitioner can enhance their mind-body connection. Thus, strengthening and stretching the leg muscles during poses, especially the muscles around the hips and knees, can be particularly well targeted for knee pain.
There are some well-trained yoga instructors who can perform several asanas to reduce or eliminate knee pain, but be very careful. It is best to see a yoga therapist, who is certified to use yogic exercise as therapy and should receive additional training, or ask a physical therapist what postures might help and what May hinder the healing process.
Although the adage, "no pain, no gain," may have traction with you or your students, remember that knee pain can be a sign that you've gone too far. Yoga aims to get you in tune with your body, and that includes listening to your body's pain signals.
side notes for teachers
Therapy is complex and requires each of us to enter a world of continuing education. Whether you choose to take specialist yoga teacher training in India or additional courses in some type of therapy, you want to be sure that any advice you give to students is within your competence. Additionally, coaches must know when to tell a student to back off in pain. As many of us have learned: Pushing down on a skeletal joint can result in permanent injury.
No comments yet