Yoga Should Heal, Not Hurt, Says ACSM Expert

[Guest guest]

Yoga Should Heal, Not Hurt, Says ACSM Expert

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=28793

08 Aug 2005

Yoga should heal, not hurt, according to Cole, Ph.D. In his

presentation at the ninth-annual American College of Sports Medicine

(ACSM) Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition, Cole reviewed the

injuries most often suffered by yoga practitioners and recommended

ways to avoid them.

" Many injuries-such as those to the knees, back, neck, shoulders,

wrists and ankles-occur when practitioners try to force themselves

into difficult postures, " Cole said. " The first rule of safety is to

avoid forcing your body. Instead, practice with awareness, common

sense and self-respect. Yoga is supposed to teach us not to compete

or show off, but to use focused attention, conscious effort and

relaxation to achieve results. "

Cole also emphasized the importance of learning proper technique to

keep safe in yoga. " Specific poses carry the risk of injury if you do

them incorrectly. It's easy to avoid problems if you know what you

are doing. For example, forcing the lotus position can damage

cartilage in the knees, but you can prevent this by learning ways to

redirect the force away from the knees to the hips, where it is

needed. "

In addition to the knees, bodily sites most prone to yoga injuries

include the lower back, hamstring and sacroiliac, according to Cole.

While the latter two are more commonly injured, problems with the

knees and lower back tend to be more serious.

" Many common yoga injuries occur during straight-leg forward bends

from a standing or seated position, " said Cole. He recommends

stretching moderately in such poses; bending from the hip joints and

elongating the spine, and taking days off from these postures.

ACSM's Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition ends today at The

Flamingo Las Vegas Resort. The American College of Sports Medicine is

the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the

world. More than 20,000 international, national and regional members

are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research,

education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise

science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health

and quality of life.

The American College of Sports Medicine gratefully acknowledges the

following Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition supporters: Life

Fitness and Life Fitness Academy (Presenting Sponsors), Gatorade and

Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Lipton Tea, and Amino Vital

(Platinum Sponsors), New Lifestyles, CDC, and Masterfoods (Gold

Sponsors), BSDI, Lippincott & Wilkins, SPRI Products and EAS

(Silver Sponsors).

http://www.acsm.org