In this modern day and age, yoga and pilates have gained popularity because of their numerous benefits. According to the studies, millions of people these days suffer from chronic back pain due to different reasons. The back pain affects their daily routine and makes simple activities difficult. Yoga or pilates play a vital role in back pain treatment. These two forms of physical activity benefited many people, especially with muscle and ligament pull or strain.
Let us explore how yoga or pilates can serve as effective back pain treatments.
Yoga For Treating Back Pain
Yoga is an extremely “spiritual” physical practice with various styles and asanas, each with unique advantages for practitioners. It is usually performed under the guidance of experts for correct posture and other benefits. The asanas primarily include putting the body through various poses and positions. It also includes breathing exercises, beneficial for respiratory health, using different poses and positions.
It is also believed that the holistic approach of yoga helps maintain a good balance between body and mind. Once you start practicing yoga, you will consider your body and mind as one and connect with them both physically and spiritually.
People suffering from back pain due to strained ligaments and muscles must perform yoga asanas that increase flexibility and core muscle strength. It also helps increase the blood flow in the body, which helps heal the swollen and sensitive tissues in the body. Once you start practicing yoga, you will find various good physical changes in your body. But, still, in some cases, if the back pain persists for more than weeks, doctors suggest surgical interventions.
A few asanas incorporated into your routine may also help lengthen the spine, facilitate the correction of spinal alignment, and promote disc healing.
Some of the yoga asanas that specifically target back pain relief by stretching and strengthening the muscles, improving posture, and enhancing overall spine health include:
- Cat-cow stretch
- Child’s pose
- Downward-facing dog
- Cobra pose
- Bridge pose
Pilates For Treating Back Pain
Joseph Pilates created Pilates in the early 20th century, with a primary emphasis on body awareness, flexibility, and core strength. He developed these exercises with the hope that they would help heal the physical pain. His vision behind creating these exercises was to encourage a systematic and disciplined approach towards physical activities that will positively impact human physical and mental health, eliminating their suffering and need for hospitalization.
Pilates is performed under the guidance of expert practitioners who guide through a series of exercises according to the physical requirements of the individuals. It is also a holistic approach that primarily focuses on core strengthening. With the help of these exercises, practitioners can strengthen their abdominal, back, and upper leg muscles and increase flexibility, which helps them recover from back pain.
Pilates exercises that promote spinal stability and help in back pain treatment include:
- Pelvic tilts
- The hundred
- Leg circles
- Swan dive
- The saw
Conclusion
Yoga and pilates are valuable tools that help with back pain treatment. If the pain persists, you can get help from top healthcare centers, like ANSSI Wellness, and get more non-surgical treatment options to reduce your back pain.