Physiotherapy And Yoga
Modern lifestyle and excessive use of technological devices cause problems that adversely affect the skeletal and muscular system, especially posture disorders. These problems lead to herniated discs in the back, neck, and shoulder, significantly reducing quality of life.
It is possible to relieve pain caused by bad posture habits with the movements applied in physical therapy. In addition to physical therapy, yoga exercises planned for the patient also play an important role in the treatment of problems.
What Is Yoga?
Yoga is the name given to physical activities that first emerged in India and support physical, mental and spiritual development. Yoga movements focusing on different parts of the body support flexibility, balance and strength.
In yoga, where correct breathing techniques are used, it is aimed to get away from stress by creating personal awareness and to help metabolism by accelerating blood circulation.
The presence of different yoga movements allows the person to perform special movements specific to the area where the person is experiencing pain or distress. In this way, while the skeletal and muscular system develops, the body increases its balance skills. In this way, it is possible to improve posture, improve flexibility and reduce pain.
Purpose Of Yoga In Physical Therapy
Yoga is a physical activity that is used as an adjunct to some medical practices due to its benefits for overall health. Physical therapy is one of the leading areas.
Yoga applied in physical therapy aims to develop and strengthen the individual physically and mentally. The effects of yoga in relieving pain in the problem area and helping the individual regain mobility are significant.
Yoga also prevents injuries that may occur during daily movements and exercise.
In yoga specifically planned for physical therapy, the philosophy of self-awareness is adopted, and it allows the person to clearly see how the applied movements change the body.
In this way, the individual is developed both physically and mentally, and body awareness is acquired. Yoga exercises performed under the control of an expert who has received training in this area are determined according to the needs of the individual and are used in the treatment of various diseases.
Here are some of the diseases that can be treated with yoga:
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Shoulder, hip, and knee injuries
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Pelvic pain disorders
- Chronic or persistent pain
- Scoliosis
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Pregnancy
- Migraine and headaches
- Urinary incontinence
- Anxiety
How Is Yoga Applied In Physical Therapy?
In yoga applied as an adjunct to physical therapy, the movements that the individual needs to do are determined individually. The source, severity, and age of the individual are effective in planning these exercises.
In yoga therapy, which is organized in sessions, movements are applied to relieve the individual’s pain, and various breathing techniques are used during these movements. This ensures that the person does the exercises with focus and feels the results of the exercise more closely.
With exercises applied with focus, a better body awareness is gained and body structures and functions are developed. The effects of yoga begin to be felt in about 2 weeks, and the variety of movements applied thereafter is again adjusted individually.
What Are The Benefits Of Yoga In Physical Therapy?
The pros of yoga, which is applied to relieve pain and improve the musculoskeletal system, are listed as follows:
- Strengthens the immune system
- Regulates heart rate and blood pressure
- Balances metabolism
- Increases oxygen supply to muscles with proper breathing techniques
- Supports anatomy and makes the structures that carry the body stronger
- Reduces stress hormones
- Improves balance and flexibility
- Supports the muscle, joint, and nervous system
- Is good for bone and cartilage health
- Regulates the digestive system and helps bowel movements
- Relaxes the body and mind
- Increases mental concentration
- Positively affects sleep patterns
- Develops relaxation skills and increases motivation
- Is effective in getting rid of past and future anxiety
What Should Be Considered During Yoga?
Yoga is a physical and mental exercise that is intertwined with meditation. It is one of the most effective ways to get rid of musculoskeletal disorders, but poorly applied movements can harm the person instead of benefiting them.
Therefore, it is important that yoga practice in physical therapy is performed under the supervision of an expert. This prevents the emergence of problems caused by incorrect pose postures and the body being overstressed.
Because one of the basic principles of yoga is to stretch and strengthen the body over time rather than forcing it all at once. At this point, it is important to apply the movements correctly and plan them according to the individual. Not every yoga pose is suitable for everyone, and experts need to decide which exercise is applied to whom at what level.
Another point to pay attention to during yoga is to warm up sufficiently and then transition to the main pose. The limit here should be adjusted according to the person’s own body, and practices should always be completed with the expert, especially in the beginning.
Faster results can be achieved with yoga exercises that are applied consciously without straining the body too much. In particular, correct posture habits can be acquired for the waist and neck areas that are actively used during the day, and the musculoskeletal system can be developed to the extent allowed by the body. The risk of injury is also minimized at the same time.
