"Yoga for Healing Bulging Disc Back Pain"
By Tommy Hoffman, Licensed Physical Therapist
Contrary to what most people might think, yoga is not merely a bunch of stretching exercises or a myriad of postures that one holds. It is far more complex and actually constitutes as a way of life for many individuals.
It may affect everything, including the time of day they wake up, to the way they breathe, to the very foods they consume. Many people may start off with a few yoga classes at their local gym and end up altering much of their personal lifestyle. It can be a major transformation of one’s self.
It is thought that through the practice of yoga, one may bring a union of the body, mind and spirit and thereby be freed from sorrow or pain.
Caution for Bulging Discs and Yoga
As yoga pertains to a painful lower back region, extreme caution must be used. It is quite easy to flare up or exacerbate an already painful condition. Often times, healing bulging disc back pain comes from quieting ones daily activities.
For this reason, if you are not already engaged in a regular yoga routine, now is essentially not a good time to start one. Performing new activities that you are not accustomed to doing can frequently mean extra pain or soreness.
For instance, as a person may have an extension bias (pain symptoms are less in extension), going into a “hand to foot pose” could severely become injurious as this puts the lumbar spine into a great amount of spinal flexion.
I would recommend finding a yogi master that is experienced with training people who have lower back pain. Sort of interview the teacher or instructor a bit. That way, a different approach may be more safely under taken towards healing your bulging disc back pain with yoga.
Perhaps the people who will find the most success in self-treating their lower back pain with yoga will be those individuals who are experiencing discomfort due to tight muscles. Yoga is also an excellent way to strengthen core stabilizers of the lumbar spine.
I know that for me, using extension postures are often good exercises used for treating lower back pain and sciatica due to a diagnosis of a herniated disc or bulging disc. In yoga, these are known as the “Cobra” pose and the “Upward Dog” pose.
In summary, yoga can be an excellent resource in your “tool box” for achieving lower back pain relief and healing bulging disc back pain. And it must be done so with a word of caution.
Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional.
Good Luck,
Tommy Hoffman, P.T.
Tommy Hoffman
