Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition characterized by wear and tear that damages the cartilage and bone of the joints. It typically occurs in middle age and affects more individuals than any other type of joint disorder. Current research indicates that regular performance of yoga exercises can help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis and improve quality of life.
Yoga Basics
Yoga is a combination of mental and physical practices designed to promote unity of mind and body and increase your sense of deep connection to your surrounding environment. While its principles have a distinctly spiritual or religious origin, you can use them in a non-religious setting to improve your health and well-being. Common components of a yoga-based wellness program include physical exercises or postures called asanas, breathing techniques called pranayama and various forms of meditation or relaxation.
Osteoarthritis and Exercise
Individuals with osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis tend to become physically inactive over time. This inactivity can easily lead to increased levels of arthritis-related pain, which in turn can lead to even greater tendencies toward inactivity. To counteract this cycle, the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center strongly recommends that people with arthritis regularly engage in exercises that require the use of their joints. In addition to helping combat pain symptoms, exercises of this type can help increase key physical factors such as endurance, muscle strength and levels of available energy.
Yoga Benefits
The main physical form of yoga, commonly referred to as hatha yoga, emphasizes the improvement of balance, strength, endurance and postural alignment. The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center reports that preliminary studies indicate that individuals with osteoarthritis who regularly perform yoga exercises experience improvements in their joint health and basic physical functioning, as well as in their sense of emotional and mental well-being. Additionally, osteoarthritis patients who practice yoga appear to experience significant improvements in their perceived quality of life.
Considerations
If you have osteoarthritis, speak with your doctor before beginning a yoga program or any other form of exercise. Your doctor can assess your current health and set any necessary limitations on the time or intensity of your exercise plan. Be aware that hatha yoga is a general term for various types of yoga that combine physical postures with controlled breathing. Specific forms of yoga with these features have widely varying practices and degrees of physical intensity, and not all types of yoga may be suitable for your condition. Consult the Yoga Alliance, a national organization for yoga instructor certification, to learn more about the requirements of the various forms of hatha yoga.
