| Introduction | | | | Yoga |
| Shoulder pain can also be due to Arthritis in the joints | | | | Yoga Therapy Overview. Yoga therapy involves using |
| about the shoulder (gradual narrowing of the joints and | | | | yoga postures to balance and align your muscles to |
| loss of protective cartilage). Shoulder pain can | | | | heal your body from pain and other chronic health |
| sometimes go away on its own but may last up to 12 | | | | conditions. |
| to 18 months. | | | | Yoga postures focus on building core shoulder |
| A common cause of shoulder pain is soreness of the | | | | strength, opening the chest and relaxation of the upper |
| tendon (a cord that attaches a muscle to a bone) of | | | | shoulder and neck muscles. Yoga is not a fad; it is a |
| the rotator cuff (the part of the shoulder that helps | | | | science that is recognized all over the world, |
| circular motion). If shoulder pain and immobility are | | | | re-establishing its credibility as an ancient discipline |
| keeping you awake at night or from the daily activities | | | | dating back ten thousand years ago and will help you |
| you love, you are not alone. | | | | with shoulder and back pain. |
| When you first feel shoulder pain, apply ice for up to 15 | | | | Yoga disciplines both the physical body and the mind, |
| minutes, then leave it off for 15 minutes. Early on | | | | unites the two and encourages strength, flexibility and |
| arthritis of the shoulder can be managed with mild | | | | suppleness into all parts. This yoga posture is easier on |
| analgesics and gentle exercises. | | | | the shoulders when the elbows are slightly bent. |
| Exercise | | | | In yoga therapy, you use a set of posture designed |
| Known gentle exercises for shoulder pain include | | | | specifically for your individual problems and imbalances |
| warm water therapy pool exercises that are provided | | | | to heal your body. This six week program is designed |
| by a trained and licensed physical therapist; approved | | | | for people with low back pain who wish to return to |
| land exercises to assure free movement of the | | | | yoga practice or explore yoga as a method of |
| arthritic area; cortisone injections (administered at the | | | | managing their back pain. |
| minimum of every six months according to orthopaedic | | | | Conclusion |
| physicians) to reduce inflammation. | | | | When assessing shoulder pain, (and back pain) it is |
| Ice and hot moist pact application (use of ice water | | | | important to look for any 'red flags' that mean |
| machines designed to strap onto your shoulder are the | | | | investigation and diagnosis needs a more focused or |
| most efficient way to apply ice but large ice packs | | | | urgent approach. (For instance there could be |
| commonly used for low back pain that can purchased | | | | reflection from the middle /lower back). |
| at select pharmacies and medical supply stores are | | | | When assessing shoulder pain, take a history and |
| very effective. | | | | perform an examination with these questions in mind: Is |
| For more efficient moist heat use those granule packs | | | | the pain arising from the shoulder, neck or elsewhere. |
| sewed inside fabric and placed into a microwave oven | | | | Generally speaking, individuals who are older and have |
| for approximately two minutes - it is recommended | | | | had shoulder pain for a longer period of time can be |
| that moist heat be applied upon first rising if pain exists, | | | | treated with non operative measures even in the |
| prior to going to bed for the night or even if you are | | | | presence of a complete rotator cuff tear. Women |
| awakened by shoulder pain during the night. This can | | | | seem to have more shoulder problems than men, and |
| be good for shoulder and back pain. | | | | the frequency of shoulder pain increases with age. |
| Pain | | | | Yoga will certainly help to you to re-establish your |
| Pain relief strategies include active rest (you can and | | | | posture and body and help with shoulder and back |
| should move your shoulder, but you shouldn't do | | | | pain. With just a few simple exercises there is really |
| strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or playing | | | | much you can do. |
| tennis). | | | | |