Yoga for Arthritis

(August 8, 2008)

Hi, I'm 26yrs old. I've arthritis due to which it causes inflammation in joints. Do you think it is curable with the help of Yoga? Which yoga poses for arthritis will help? How long will it take to cure?

Arthritis is more common trouble these days as compared to the glorious olden years. It causes pain in the joints anywhere in the body along with great swelling and inflammation near the joints. Whether it is juvenile arthritis or arthritis of old age the treatment of the disease stays to be the same.

There are various kinds of arthritis which are common and they are termed as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as gout. In arthritis the joints are depleted of the soft tissues which protect them. When this tissue becomes extinct the bones get rubbed which causes pain while movements and also when the wear and tear of body parts occurs.

Several asanas of yoga can be used for treatment of arthritis. Specific exercise of hands and legs should be adopted if one is suffering from arthritis in that particular limb. But exercising the whole body is also beneficial as entire body gets weakened when suffering from the disease.

The Yoga pose Sukhasana provides energy to the individual and it helps in providing support to the back and the spine. It also provides stability to the mind and the body. Other stretching exercises of the legs and the shoulders should be carried out which provides strength to the limbs.

Certain neck exercises too can be undertaken to relieve one from stiffness and headaches. It increases flexibility in the body and helps in removal of toxin accumulation in the body which helps in providing relief. When wrists and hands are affected by arthritis, providing little stretch to the hands and clenching them does help in providing perfect exercise for osteoarthritis. Bending of wrists is the recommended exercise for rheumatoid arthritis.

Ankle bending and rotation can be practiced for lower limbs in cases of arthritis. Controlled movements help the patients of arthritis in the regular mobilization and mobility of the body parts. It also helps in removal of the toxins of the human body. It assists in the reduction of the pain in the joints and asanas of yoga help in providing dynamism and liveliness to the human body. Various asanas of yoga like bhujangasana (cobra pose), vrikshasana, pavanmuktasana, makrasana and halasana are all recommended to provide relief to the body from the acute pain caused due to different types of arthritis.

Pranayama helps in purification of the blood of the human body and deep breathing provides freshness to the mind and the body. This breathing exercise also helps in removal of the toxins in the body thereby assuring great health to the individual.

Submitted by R J on August 8, 2008 at 01:33