http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/12-minutes-of-yoga-for-stronger-bones/?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad&_r=0
The link is to an article in the NYTimes about a study by DR. Loren Fishman on osteoporosis and yoga. Dr. Fishman's hypothesis?
“Yoga puts more pressure on bone than gravity does,” he said in an
interview. “By opposing one group of muscles against another, it
stimulates osteocytes, the bone-making cells.”
He did find at the end of a 10 year study that a series of 12 postures he asked people to do had a significant effect on bone mass of the spine and femur and some effect(though not statistically significant) on bone mass of the hips. And also, "improvements in posture and balance that can accrue from the practice of yoga can be protective, Dr. Fishman said."
The postures can be modified to do safely, but there were no fractures reported or seen on X-Rays that were caused by the yoga postures. He concluded that yoga was safe to do for those diagnosed with osteoporosis.
I would caution that the postures should be modified for the range of motion available to the person doing them. It is best to get help from a yoga teacher or professional to ensure the poses are being done correctly.
Please feel free to get in touch with me if you are interested in starting a practice for prevention of or help with osteopenia or osteoporosis.
No comments:
Post a Comment