Yoga for pain relief? It can actually worsen existing injuries

New Delhi: For those of you who think yoga is the remedy for pain and aches, here's something that you might have to rethink about adopting the ancient Indian science of exercise and healing, particularly, if you have sustained an injury.

That's because researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia explained have warned that yoga, which is mostly used to reduce aches and pains, can also lead to injuries and even worsen the existing injury.

As per their study, yoga causes musculoskeletal pain in 10 percent people and exacerbated 21 percent of the existing injuries, particularly pre-existing musculoskeletal pain in the upper limbs.

The study suggests that in terms of severity, more than one-third of cases of pain caused by yoga were serious enough to prevent yoga participation and lasted for more than three months.

The researchers explained that yoga participants should be encouraged to discuss the risks of injury and any pre-existing pain, especially in the upper limbs, with yoga teachers and physiotherapists to explore posture modifications that may result in safer practice.

“Yoga can be beneficial for musculoskeletal pain, like any form of exercise, but it can also result in musculoskeletal pain,” said lead researcher Evangelos Pappas.

The study found that most "new" yoga pain was in the upper extremities (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand) possibly due to downward dog and similar postures that put weight on the upper limbs.

However, as 74 per cent of participants in the study reported that existing pain was improved by yoga, highlighting the complex relationship between musculoskeletal pain and yoga practice.

These findings can be useful for clinicians and individuals to compare the risks of yoga to other exercises enabling them to make informed decisions about which types of activities are best.

Pappas stated that the pain caused by yoga might be prevented by careful performance and the participants should tell their yoga teachers of injuries they have prior to the participation.

Yoga, originated in ancient India, is being widely practiced in various parts of the globe today, not just because of its efficacy in the management of diseases, but also of its strength in rendering a feeling of well-being to practitioner physically as well as mentally.

The findings have been published in the journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.

(With ANI inputs)