While attending an intensive yoga teacher training course, Paul gave a lecture on pain that he could never forget. Basically, he said, “We usually take life for granted, when we’re healthy, but when we’re in pain, we can’t think about anything else.” Yogic science directly addresses suffering and does everything possible to enable us to enjoy a pain-free life. As you know, there are no guarantees in life, but we can be proactive in living the best life possible during every precious moment.
A regular yoga practice is one of the best knee pain remedies. Physical therapists not only use certain yogic practices in their rehabilitation routines, but also physical, occupational, and yoga therapists have been recommending poses and sets based on yogic techniques for decades.
Common causes of knee pain
Knee pain occurs for a variety of reasons. Often, it is the result of old injuries, such as torn ligaments or menisci, that have healed improperly or incompletely. Another common cause of knee pain is tendinitis, which can result from overuse of the patellar tendon. Some younger patients suffer from chondromalacia, which is caused by softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. Older patients can experience pain in the knee joints as a result of arthritis, and sometimes scar tissue can build up around the knee from old muscle injuries, also causing pain.
Common methods to remedy knee pain
With some of the more common causes of knee pain, the best treatment is to apply ice and rest until the acute inflammation has subsided, and then begin a consistent physical therapy program to promote strength and mobility. What physiotherapy does is strengthen and tone the muscles around the joint or site of injury, preventing compensation or overloading of the knee, promoting proper physical alignment within the leg, and protecting the joint from stress placed on it. weak or underperforming muscles. muscles.
Why does yoga work 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 as physical therapy. Physical yoga poses aim to stretch, strengthen, and align the body correctly so that practitioners can improve their mind-body connections. Therefore, strengthening and stretching the leg muscles during the poses, especially the muscles around the hips and knees, can treat knee pain particularly well.
There are some well-trained yoga instructors who will be able to put together a series of poses to reduce or eliminate knee pain, but be very careful. It is best to see a yoga therapist, who has been certified in the use of yogic exercise as therapy and should have additional training, or ask a physical therapist which poses can help and which can hinder the healing process.
Although the maxim, “No pain, no gain,” may hold traction for both you and your students, remember that knee pain can be a sign that you’ve gone too far. The purpose of yoga is 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 the world of continuing education. Whether you choose to take additional courses in specialized yoga teacher training or some form of therapy, you want to make sure that any advice you give students falls within your qualifications to give. Also, instructors need to know when to tell a student to walk away from pain. As many of us have learned: pushing on a skeletal joint will result in permanent injury.
© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division