Things You Need to Know About Yoga and Low Back Pain

Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual practice that people may use in attempts to treat injuries or health problems. I’d say yoga is one of the most common topics I get questions about for people trying to overcome low back pain.

Some swear by it. Others dread on it. And some are in the middle – like me.

I don’t have anything against yoga, but it’s an activity where people can make their low back pain worse. I did have a moment were yoga made my low back pain worse. But I don’t blame yoga. I blame a lack of education about low back pain and those recommending or teaching yoga. 

For yoga to be effective – the yoga program that one follows must be specific to a person’s needs. If the yoga program is not specific – then one could end up worse. 

Low back pain is a general term. People may have flexion based back pain. Extension based back pain. Compressive based back pain. Whatever the trigger of a person’s low back pain – it needs consideration when designing a yoga program; however, it is rare to see a yoga program that is specific to a person’s low back pain needs. 

Many people see yoga as an absolute fix for their low back pain. But don’t ever consider the specifics of the program and will follow a general program from the internet or an uneducated instructor. If a person attempts yoga for low back pain relief – a lack of guidance about their low back pain could put them in a worse position. 

For instance, certain poses in yoga may make people’s symptoms worse – depending on their pain triggers. For example – a person with flexion based low back pain (e.g., disc herniation) will not respond well to the downward dog pose. And a person with extension based low back pain (e.g., fact joint osteoarthrosis, spondylolysis) will not respond well to the cobra pose.

People with a symptomatic posterior disc herniation won’t respond well to the downward dog pose. Image Licensed from “Wavebreakmedia/depositphotos.com” 

People with symptomatic facet joint osteoarthrosis or spondylolysis won’t respond well to the cobra pose. Image Licensed from “tonodiaz/depositphotos.com” 

Can Yoga Help With Low Back Pain?

Perhaps. But the yoga program needs to be specific to the person. Prescribing a yoga program that is not specific to the person’s low back pain is a problem.

If your considering trying yoga for low back pain relief – I’d encourage you to find a quality yoga instructor and have them educate you about the poses that may trigger your low back pain. 

The takeaway is that everyone’s low back pain is different and no one will have the same program. Everyone needs a different program to address their lower back pain. Some may find yoga helpful, whereas others may not. 

One size fits all approaches don’t work when it comes to yoga and low back pain. 

Salute, 

Remi

Thumbnail Image Licensed from “EpicStockMedia/depositphotos.com”