When you think of getting older, do you automatically picture a life of less mobility and more pain? Maybe you remember grandma’s perpetually sore back or Uncle Joe’s weather-forecasting joints, or you have your own tweaky knee that makes navigating stairs a little more difficult each year…Does it have to be this way?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hundreds of millions of people globally have osteoarthritis. In fact, WHO says that “Osteoarthritis is one of the significant contributors to years lived with disability among the musculoskeletal conditions.” And although this joint inflammation is often brought on by wear and tear or repetitive stress over time, the condition is NOT an inevitable consequence of growing older. More good news: Once you have a diagnosis, worsening symptoms are also not inevitable!
The Mayo Clinic’s guidance to patients indicates that “Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and receiving certain treatments might slow progression of the disease and help improve pain and joint function.” Emerging research evidence shows that consistent therapeutic yoga practice may alleviate physical arthritis effects by decreasing pain and stiffness and helping to maintain or improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
The practices can also improve energy and reduce anxiety and depression, all issues that people with the condition may need to manage. These particular findings about yoga’s effects are important because physical pain is not the only reason arthritis can be so debilitating. An IAYT-certified yoga therapist can help to build personalized practices that address the whole-system effects of a chronic condition like arthritis.
In addition to finding a qualified yoga therapy professional to consult individually or in a small group, you can check out these resources from the yogatherapy.health blog for a taste of how the practices work:
- When You’ve Tried Everything for Joint Pain: Suffering is about much more than physical pain—and so is yoga therapy.
- IAYT-certified yoga therapist Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a researcher who studies yoga and arthritis. Learn more about her work with How Practicing Yoga Can Help Relieve Your Arthritis Pain Naturally and the video Yoga for Arthritis Patients.
