The condition, which hinders movement in the joints of the body and the connecting tissues of the muscles, can cause pain and stiffness in those who are afflicted. Arthritis can affect job performance, relaxation and the overall quality of life.
The Center for Disease Control reports that arthritis has been diagnosed in more than 46 million people in the U.S., affecting people of all race and ethnic categories. The risk of arthritis increases as we get older and affects more women than men.
All of us probably know someone who suffers from a form of arthritis, or you may suffer from it yourself. But according to research, there may be an easy way to ease the discomfort and pain connected with arthritis: yoga.
Although testing in this area is not extensive, yoga has still been found to have some positive effects, both psychological and physical, for the sufferers of arthritis. A report by the John Hopkins University Arthritis Center states that while research is minimal regarding yoga and its effect on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the research that has been conducted is "promising" and shows "improvement in joint health, physical functioning and mental/emotional well being...Perhaps most importantly, yoga has an important positive effect on quality of life. People with arthritis may also enjoy yoga more than traditional forms of exercise...." The John Hopkins Arthritis Center goes on to say more than 75 scientific studies have been published on the effects of yoga, with all of them showing that yoga is a "safe and effective" way to increase muscle strength and improve flexibility, two areas that that should be of great interest to anyone suffering from arthritis.
Regular physical activity, doctors agree, is an important part of the treatment of arthritis and may promote joint health. However, demanding exercise such as weight training and running, which put a great deal of stress on joints and muscles, may actually make the condition worse. Which makes an activity such as yoga the perfect solution to the quest for a physical exercise that is beneficial but not stressful to the body. Reports also state that arthritis patients who take up yoga quite often keep practicing it far longer than other forms of exercise, which is important to note when you consider studies that show approximately 50 percent of people who begin an exercise program drop out within the first six months.
Physicians also point to the mental benefits of practicing yoga with regards to arthritis. Faced with a condition that can greatly decrease mobility and activity, people afflicted with arthritis, particularly younger people, can develop feelings of depression. For people suffering from depression associated with the condition, doctors say, yoga can help them mentally as well as physically.
Doctors report that yoga can give arthritis sufferers a mental clarity that can help them to develop positive energy and keep feelings of depression low. Yoga has also been proven to aid the immune system as well, which is a great benefit since some types of arthritis can affect the immune as well. Yoga, the doctors conclude, has a positive effect on the overall quality of a patient's life.
Doctors and yoga instructors point out that there are certain poses and movements that arthritis sufferers should avoid. Arthritis patients should restrict backbends to small movements and be mindful not to hyperextend their neck by keeping their head in line with their spinal column. Arthritis sufferers should use caution when performing hip-related poses (hip openers), including those poses that call for extreme external rotation of the hips. In short, doctors and yoga instructors recommend that if you are experiencing pain, stop. Those who suffer from arthritis should use restraint during their first yoga session and be aware of any pain or discomfort they may feel the next day; it's not uncommon to not feel pain until the day after a yoga session. If an arthritis patient feels no pain after their first yoga session, they may choose to slowly increase the depth and intensity of the movement.
If you are an arthritis sufferer, consult with your doctor about how yoga can benefit you in alleviating the pain and discomfort of your condition.
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